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Full text of "Logan's History of Indianapolis from 1818. Giving a carefully compiled record of events of the city from the organization of the state government;its mercantile, manufacturing, political and social progress, course of development, present importance and future prosperity;"

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REYNOLDS  HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


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ALLEN  COUNTY  PU^WSi  hin  iimir 


3  1833  00805  4444 


LOGAN *S 

HISTORY  OF  INDIANAPOLIS 

-  FROM  181S 


by 
Ignatius   Brov;n 


cl863 


1588392 

HISTORY  OF  IXDIAXAPOLIS, 

FROM    1S18.  /ev-.".-x,, 

GIVrVi'J  \  rVREFrT.I.YrnMriLKli  HFri  iiU'  '-F  EVF.XT-^  OF  THE  CITV  FR'^f  THF  OROV- 

MiATI'iN  <'F  THF  S'lWTF  '^i  •Vi:i:.\\f  KNT :    IT-  AtFKl   '.XTFI.E.  ^.I  \M"FArTri;iNO, 

I'DLITI'-AL  AXF)  -'^I'lAL  PF;"!  iriE--^.  COFK-E  < 'F  ! 'EVFL' »rM  FXT.  PKF>- 

E-NT  IMP<»RTA\''E   'VrtFFTrRE  PK-'-PFKITV;  AS  -FF\  BY 

A  NATI\  E    Um1;N   UE-11*E.\T   ANL'  WuKTHV  CITI/.EN. 

Indianapolis,  tlie  poUtltxil  nnd  comnicr- 1790  and  179"',  and  had  built  several  vil- 
cial  capital  of  Indiana,  is  -itnatc-d  vn  the  lages  alon>j  the  river,  the  nearest  being 
west  iV.rk  of  v.hite  rivtr,  l/'irude  oD^  "i-'/,  about  twelve  niiie-5  above  tliis  point.  An 
longitude  8G^  5',  and  about  527  feet  aKn-e  old  white  woman,  the  "wife  of  a  French 
liie  sea,.  It  L■^  i«o  luilcs  i"ic:'tli-"eit  oi  the  triidc'r.  hvcd  tiiCrc  after  tho  rc.-t  of  the  tribe 
centre  of  the  State,  and  one  rr.ile  5*j'ith-w<.sr  had  left.  She  had  been  tak^n  pris'.>ner, 
of  the  centre  ot"  Marion  cunnty.  It  oecn-  when  nine  years  old,  at  Martin's  Station  in 
pies  the  mid.-',  of  a  shallow  bu^in,  the  gn^und  Kentucky,  "had  married  an  liidian  and  rais- 
ri.-ing  gradually  for  miles  in  all  diret^tions.  etl  a  fialf  breed  family,  and  after  the  dear'i 
The  soil  is  a  clayey  loam,  sub-soil  clay,  onof  her  Indian  iiusband  married  the  French- 
thick  beds  of  drift  ,irra\-el  aiid  sand,  resting;  man. 
on   Silurian   clays,    liiaestGnes    and    shales.. 

The  gravel  beds  are  great  natural  iilter«,.  ISIS  I\v  treaty  at  St.  Mary-.  Ohio,  Oc- 
produ'cmg  thorough  drainage  and  holdiuir  tober  2,  between  tlie  De!an-are  Indians  and 
ample  supplies  of  the  pure-t  water.  The  Lewis  Cass,  .Johnathan  .Jennings  and  Ben- 
whole  country  was  once  deii.sely  covered  j ami n  Parke,  Lnited  Stute.-  comnii.-.-ioiiers, 
with  large  hard  wood  tree^,  and  in  many  the  former  ceded  all  their  lands  in  central 
plat-es  on  the  city  site  were  extensive  thick-  Indiana,  agreeing  to  give  pos=e.ssion  in  li?Jl. 
ets  of  prickly  ash  and  spicewt;od.  The  The  reported  fertility  and  beauty  of  '"tlie 
tl-.ick  undergrowth  afi^'nled  safe  covert  for  new  purchase,"  as  it  was  afterward  called, 
aU  kinds  of  same,  and  for  a  number  of  ycars'excited  the  frontiersmen,  ami,  wiii-:Oui  wait- 
after  the  settlement  bear?  and  deer  were  ing  for  pos-^esslon  to  be  given  under  the 
readilv  found  in  the  neu'hi'Ovhood.  Hun-  ire.ity,  they  entered  it  at  variou-  points, 
ters  .seldom  returned  un^r,cee--fu!  from  the  William  C>;mer,  an  Indi.an  trader,  iiud  stt- 
cha.se,  and,  as  late  a^^  lS4'i,  saddles  of  veni"-  tied  at  a  Deiiiware  villaire  on  Wiute  river, 
s<-)n  sold  at  from  25  to  50  cents,  turkeys  at  foiu-  miles  this  side  of  Noblesville,  several 
10  and  12  cents,  and  a  buHhel  of  pigeons  years  before  this  date.  His  location  drew 
for  25  cent.s.  The  river  wa.s  so  fully  .stocked  the  attention  of  others  to  that  .stream,  and 
wirh  fish  that  an  old  settler  deckred  "a  several  per«ons  from  Fayette  and  Wa,-Tie 
stone  thrown  Ln  it  anywlicre,  fr-'tn  the  ctiunties,  visited  this  section  just  b-.-tore,  and 
grave  yard  ford  to  iiie  month  of  Fail  ci-eek,  after  the  treaty.  In  tiie  Spring  of  \h\% 
would 'strike  a  shonl  of  ti=;h."  The  Inddans  two  br^jthers.  named  Jacob  and  Cyrui  Whit- 
reluctantly  vielded  the  country  on  account  zel,  having  got  permission  of  tiie  <-ld  pela- 
of  the  abundance  of  11  di  and  game,  and  ware  chief,  blazed  a  tra«  from  the  White- 
manv  of  them  lingered  in  the  vici.nity  lone  water  river  to  the  bluiis  of  White  river, 
after  the  treaty.  Though  dr3y  had  ni*  per-  They  remained  and  raided  a  crop  there 
manent  vilkir'e  hr  re,  tlitelr  hunting  and  dsh-  during  the  Summer,  and  moved  iheir  fami- 
ing  camps  were  numerous  on  and  nona  of  des  out  in  October.  (.Jacob  Whitzel  died 
the  citT  .site,  and  a  traveller  who  pas,se<l  up  there  July  2,  1827.)  Lewis  Whiizel,  liie 
tiie  river  .-evevalvears  iK-foir;  the  settlemenr,  noted  Indian  scout,  celebrated  in  iDorder 
says  the  banks  v/'ere  then  dotted  with  'vi^-annals,  was  a  brother  of  these  men  and 
warns  and  the  river  often  parttnl  by  their  visited  them  there  shortly  after,  >'bile  on 
ctmoes.  The  scene  was  verv  striking  at  ins  way  to  Loui.siana.  Late  in  the  !•  all  of 
niiiht  when  the  savages  were  tire  hunting  or  131S,  Dr.  Dougla,s  had  a.-;cended  the  river 
fi-diins-.  The  Shawnees  atid  Delaware;  h:id  from  the  lower  settlements,  slof.ping  awhile 
vioved    to    this   section   sometime    beiween  at  the  biufis ;  and  James  Faxion  descende.! 


LOGA^-S   HISTORY  OF 


it  from  t];e  hea.'wator*,  reaching  this  pdint      1^*20     rogue  sconis  to  have  be.-ii  the  onlv 
in    January,   IS-O.     These  explorinij  trips  inhaMtant  from  }.Iarch,  ISIU.  to  Fehn-:'. 
were  attcndeil  with  .-nine  risk,  for  the  In-  -~,  1S-J(>.  wiu-n  J..hn   and   James  McCor- 
dians  \Tere  in  full  po->e--.iion  and  nut  well  nH'"k  arrived  and  hnilt  tlieir  oahin^  un  i!ie 
disponed  toward  rlie  intruder,-.  Ti\^r  bank,  juot  below  the   inouth  ot'  Fall 

1S19  Aeourding-  to  va.j-:  authnritie-;,  the  ereek  and  near  the  present  bridice.  John 
honor  due  to  the  tir^t  settler  behmLrs  t<i  Maxwell  and  Jdhn  Cowan  followtr.t  >ii.,rtiv 
George  Pogue,  a  blacksmith  from  White-  after,  building  cabins  ettrlv  in  M;ircii  iii 
water,  who  reached  thi^  point  from  that  !^be  north-west  corner  of  the  donaiiun  on 
section  March  2,  ISin.  After  reaching  the  Fall  creek,  near  the  present  Crawf. .rd-vill,,; 
river  he  turneii  back  and  built  his  cabin  road  bridge.  In  March,  April  and  ^[av 
on  the  high  ground  east  of  the  creek  which  other  families  arrived  following  the  trace 
now  boars  hi.s  name,  close  to  a  larsre  sprincr,  'eft  by  Cowan  and  Maxwell,  and  Ijv  the 
and  near  tlie  present  eastern  end  of  Michi-  nrst  of  .June  there  were  perhaps  tifteon 
gan  street.     The  ruins  of  this  cabin  were  families  on  the  present  donation.     Among 

ithem  were  those  of  Henry  and  .Samuel 
jDavis,  Corbaley,  Barnhill, '  VanDlaricum,  • 
Harding  and  AVil.-on.  The  first  cubiu  <.n 
|the  old  _to^\•n  plat  was  built  in  May,  by 
j  Isaac  Wilson,  near  the  north-west  corner  of 
■the  state  house  sipiare.  Other  emiirrduts 
jarrived  during  the  Summer  and  Fall,  and 
jthe  settlemen:  grcvr  slc.vly  Ibr  a  year  after- 
iward.  The  government  surveys  in  this  sec- 
jtion  were  made  in  1?1U  and  1820. 

I     The  congressional  act  of  April  10.  1S1(3,  , 

g^'^i  '  r--r~~Tr  1,       i authorizing  a  state  government  for  Indiana, 

S^^r'  ~*  '        jhad  donated   (with   the  privilege  of  selec- 

^^^'   >-^     ^  __         ^_  jtion,)    four  sections  of  unsold   lands  for   a 

'"^^'''^^'•^=^^~^-^^5;^^=«riz^=5C?--^  ; permanent  capital.    The  assembly,  on  Janu- 

,,-  n         •    T>     ■  ,  a     T-    .r-u     T,    ,  !-'ry  II7  l-'^-'X  appointed  George  Himt,  John 

C..eorsePosuesn.s.l<^K.^.th^u-.tCabmB^:lt,cv,nner,  John   Giililund,   Stephen   Ludlow, 

-Joseph  Bartholomew,  John  Tiptop,,  Jers-e  B. 
visible  for  many  years  afterward,     Pocjie  L»urham,  Frederick  Rapp,  ^\'iJiia:^  Prince, 
was  killed  by  Indians  about  daybreak  onv  ■-nd    Th(]ma3    Fmersi/u,    cnmnii~;ioners   to 
morning   in  April,  1S"21,     His   horses  had  make  the  selection,  directin-r  them  to  meet 
been   disturbed   during   the   night,    lie    de- J-t  Conner's  liouse,  on  White  river,  early  in 
clared  the  Indians  were  stealing  them,  and  cue  Spring.     A  part  of  them  only  served, 
taking  his  ritle  set  out  in  pursuit.     Wheri  Iscending    the   valley    on    horseback    and 
last  seen  he  was  near  tlieir  camp,  gunshots  iiaklng  examinations,  they  met  as  directed 
were  heard,  and  as  his  horses  and  clothes    r  Conner's,  where,  after  very  serious  dis- ' 
were  atterward  seen  in  their  possession  little  vUtes  between  them  a-s  to  sites  at  the  blutis, 
doubt  remained  as  to  his  fate.     His  death  •-:  the  mouth  of  F;dl  creek  and  at  Conner's,  . 
greatly  excited  the   settlers,  hut   their   nu-  :iie  present   location   was  chosen   by  three  ^ 
merical  weakness  prevented   any  etli>rt    to  votes  asraiust  two  for  the    bluHs.     On   the 
avenge  it.     The  i>reek  on  which  he  settled,  Tih  of  Jimc,  1520,  they  reported  the  choice 
which  then  pursued  a  very  winding  coui.se  -vf  sections  one  and  twelve,  east  fractional  ' 
thrKUtrh    the   south-east    part   of    the   plat, -foction  two  and  eleven,  and  enough  of  we.~t 
alarming  the  inhabitants  by  its   floods,  re-, fractional  section  three,  in  township  tifteen, 
ceived    his    n'lmo    and    remains    a    lasting  range  three  eaf-t,  to  make  the  four  sections 
memorial  of  the  tirst  inhaljitant  of  the  pre- -/ranted.     The  location  gave  the  place  in- 
sent  citv.  srant  reputation,  and  assisted    hi    bringing 

Pogue's  claim  as  the  first  settler  has  been  -misrants   to    it  during   the   Summer   and', 
contested,  and  in  a  publi-hed  article  by  L>r.  ?'all  of  1820,  and  Spring  of  1821.     Among  ■ 
S.  G,  Mitclieil,  in  the  Indianapolis  Guzette.  uinse  who  then  came  were  }.Iorris  Morris,  : 
in  the  Summer  of  1822,  it  is   stated   that^Jr.  S.  G.  Miulieil,  John  and  James  Given, 
the  McCormic'ics  were  t!ie  tirst  emigrants  LnMatthias  Xowhuul,  .James  M.  Ray,  N;'.tlian- 
Februarv',    1820,    and   thfit    Pogue    arrived  -d  Cox,  Thomas  Anderson,  John  Hawkins, 
with  others  in  March,  1S20,  a  month  later. iL>r.  Livin.gsloji  Ituniap,  David  Wik4,  Dan- 
It   is   singular   that   this   statement,  if  ill- '.fl  Yandes,  Alexander   Ralsti;n,  Dr.   Isaac 
founded,  should  not  have  been  contradictfd  s.oe,  Douglas  Maguire  and  others,  and  the 
publicly  in  the  'paper  at  the  time,  but  the    ibins    cuistered    closely    along    the    river 
weight  of  tradition  is  agiinst  it  and  coucurs,  :ank,  on  and  near  v.hich  almost  the  wliole 
in  fixing  Po^rue's  arrival  in  1819.  l-ettleraent  was  h)cated.     Most  of  tlse  aljove 


INDIAXATOLIS  FEO.M  181S. 


laiueJ  parties  cp.iao  In  the  Spring  of  1?21. 

In  the  north-west  part  of  the  donation, 
and  west  of  the  ]ire-ent  lilind  r-yluni,  a 
tract  of  ov.e  Imndred  and  liuy  nr  t^vo  hun- 
<lred  acre>  wa.«  found  wiifire  the  heavy  tim- 
ber had  hei-n  killed  years  before  by  Incusrs 
or  v,"orm?!.  The  undcr^^rowth  wa.s  cut  oti', 
brush  fences  enclosed  portions  of  the  "  cat- 
erpillir  deadning,"  and  dnriti:^  this  and  fol- 
lowing years  it  was  oukivated  in  corn  and 
vegetables  by  t!ie  settlers  as  a  common  field. 
Its  existence  was  a  great  benefit,  for  it  saved 
much  heavy  labor  in  cutting  off  dense  tim- 
ber and  \vas  immediately  a\ailable  for  culti- 
vation. It  yielded  abundantly,  g:;me  was 
readily  procured,  and  though  con^idenibie 
sickness  occurred  during  the  Summer  and 
Full,  the  people  got  ah^np:  with  comparative 
comfort  during  the  Fall  and  Winter  of 
lb20. 

iN^l  Tiie  legislature  confirmed  the 
choice  of  site  Januar'-  •;,  1S21  named  the 
town  Indianapolis,  and  ajipointed  Christo- 
pher Harrison,  James  Jones  and  Sanuiel  P. 
Booker,  C(.)mmissioners  to  lay  it  ofl^  direct- 
ing them  to  meet  on  the  site  first  M.onday 
in  April,  appoint  surveyors  and  clerk,  make 
a  survey,  prepare  two  maps,  -and  advertise 
and  sell  the  alternate  lots  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, the  nior.ey  received  from  the  sales  to 
be  set  apart  as  a  public  building  fund.  At 
the  appointed  time  Judge  Plarrison  was  the 
only  commissioner  here  and  the  only  one 
who  acted.  Eli  as  P.  Fordham  and  Alexan- 
der Kalston  had  been  selected  as  the  sur- 
veyors, and  Benjamin  I.  Blythe  clerk.  Mr. 
Blyth  Ijecame  a  resident  of  the  town  and 
was  subseip\entjy  the  agent.  Of  Fordham 
little  is  known.  Eaiston  was  an  old  bache- 
lor, a  talented  Scotchman,  a.nd  when  young 
had  assisted  in  surveying  Wa.-hington  dty. 
He  was  aftorwaril  coimected  with  Burr'a  ex- 
pedition and  on  its  failure  remained  in  the 
West.  We  are  inde!:>ted  to  him  for  tlie  reg- 
ular plan,  large  s<iuares,  wide  streets  and 
dia2:onal  avenues  of  the  old  plat.  He  after- 
ward .settled  here,  highly  esteemed  for  his 
virtues  anil  mental  powers,  and  dying  Jan- 
uary 5,  1S27,  lies  somewhere  in  the  old 
cemeterv'  in  an  unmarkeil  crrave. 

The  .-urvcying  pa-ty  having  been  organ- 
ized in  April,  the  plan  was  determined  on, 
the  plat  made  and  tlie  survey  begun.  The 
lines  and  corners  of  the  foui-  sections  were 
traced  out,  with  a  fraction  on  the  west  bank 
to  comijlete  the  2,560  acres  granted.  A 
town  plat  one  mile  s(piare  was  marke<l  out 
near  tiie  middle  of  the  donation.  A  circle 
lot  of  nearly  four  acres  in  extent  surrounrkd 
by  a  street  eighty  leet  wide  occupied  the 
centre,  and  from  the  outside  corners  of  the 
blocks  next  to  it  avt-nues  ninety  teet  wide 
Were  dra^vn  to  tlie  corners  of  the  plat.  Tb.e 
other  streets  ran  north  and  south  and  east 


and  west,  and  wei-e  ninety  feet  wide  except 
Washington  which  was  one  hundred  and 
twenty.  Tlicre  v.t-re  eighty-nine  .s^juares  of 
four  acres  in  extent,  each  four  hundred  and 
twenty  feet  front,  dividerl  by  two  alKvs 
fifteen  and  thirty  feet  wide  crossing  at  ridit 
angles.  There  were  also  six  fractional 
squares  and  three  large  irregular  tracts  in 
the  valley  of  Pogne's  run.  The  present 
North,  Soutli,  East  and  West  streets,  were 
not  included  in  the  ori<,'inal  design,  the  plat 
abutting  directly  against  the  undivided  do- 
nation lands  !nit  were  mlded  afterward  by 
Jud^ce  Harrison  at  the  su;.'gestion  of  James 
Blake,  who  said  that  fifty  years  afterward 
they  T.-ould  afibrd  a  line  four  mile  drive 
around  the  town  and  a  half  mile  from  its 
centre.  The  donation  outside  the  plat  was 
not  laid  otl"  or  divided,  for  no  one  supposed 
the  town  would  ever  extend  beyond  the 
plat,  and  no  provision  was  made  for  it.  It 
v.'as  «ltcrv>;iid  di.ided  by  tlie  agent,  under 
direction  of  the  assembly,  into  large  out- 
blocks,  witli  few  and  narrow  roads  or  streets, 
and  sold  for  farms.  The  "  sub-divisions " 
are  properly  in  the  squares  of  the  old  plat 
and  in  these  out-blocks,  and  the  ''  addi- 
tions" are  properly  outside  of  the  donation 
limits.  Unfortunately  no  rule  has  ever  been 
adopted  by  the  legislature  or  city  council 
requiring  sub-divisions,  and  especially  ad- 
ditions, to  conform  generally  to  the  city 
plat.  Each  owner  has  l)etn  left  free  lo 
regulate  the  size  and  shape  of  blocks  and 
lots,  and  tlie  width  and  direction  of  streets 
and  alleys,  to  suit  his  owtt  interest  or  con- 
venience, and  as  a  natural  conserpaence  the 
aewest  jxirti'^ns  of  our  city  are  the  most 
irreffvdar  and  unsightly  portions  shown  w 
its  map.  A  rule  on  this  subject  .should  be  at 
once  adopted  for  the  future,  and  larire  sums 
will  have  to  be  expended  some  day  on 
account  of  the  failure  to  adopt  it  in  the 
past.  The  city  Ion;,'  since  covered  the  do- 
nation, and  its  suburbs  extend  in  most  direc- 
tions irum  a  half  mile  to  a  mile  beyond,  but 
the  nnmicipal  government  and  revenu<?s 
are  still  restricted  to  the  original  donation 
limits.  The  old  town  plat  was  not  located 
in  the  center  of  the  donation.  The  joint 
corner  of  the  four  sections  is  in  the  alley 
ten  feet  west  anrl  five  feet  south  of  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  Palmer  House  li)t.  The 
surveyors  foimd  that  if  tlie  centre  (>(  the 
plat  was  fixed  there  too  much  of  the  plat 
would  be  thrown  in  Pogue's  run  valley, 
then  a  most  unpromising  li>cality.  In 
searching  for  a  better  point  the  natural 
elevation  in  the  present  circle  was  found 
and  at  once  chosen.  It  was  then  coven  d 
with  a  fine  <rrove  of  tall,  stnusht  suarar  trees, 
wliich  should  have  been  preserved.  The 
surveyors  were  much  embarras.-ed  in  their 
work  bv  the  bavous  which  tlien  cro-s.-ed  the 


LGGA^"S   HISTGliY  OF 


donation  in  ;\  !;'irth-ea<t  and  south-west  di-  in  Scptem^x?r,  is^-J.  Tl.e  pw.ple  were  di<- 
rection,  and  by  the  den.se  thicicets  through  satisfied  with  hiiu  and  with  Ins  suoix-s.-i;- 
which  they  hiid  to  cut  their  way.  In  some  James  Milroy,  nvho  held  the  ofliCi-  a  )'.■■*' 
places  these  bayou  channels  -ire  not  yet  en-  months  and  then  resigned,  iiecause  thev  did 
tirely  obKterated,  and  portiuns  of  the  old  not  become  permanent  residents  of  the  tnv/n. 
thickets  were  lound  in  protected  spots  till  Bethuel  F.  -Morris  was  appointed  I)ecember 
1^^^-  ;24,  182-2;  Benjamin  I.  Ulvthe  Febu^.^r^•  1, 

1  he  surveys  and  maps  Ix'ing  completed,  IS'-'o;  Ebenezor  .Sliarpe  '  April  8.  is-JS 
the  lot  sale  was  duly  advertised  and  held  l>y  dyiu!?  September,  18;;8;  John  G. ''r,n.v.-n 
Gen.  John  Carr,  ithe  hrst  State  agent,  M'ho  then  hekl  it  a  few  m.mths,  hein?  succcC'lvd 
had  reached  here  shortly  before,)  nn  the  .January  or  Februarv,  ISoO.  bv  Thomas  II. 
loth  of  October,  at  a  e;'bin  on  Wa^luncr;ou  Sharpe";  John  Cook,"  state  librarian,  lield  it 
street  just  west  of  the  pre^.-iit  canal.  The  a  short  time  in  IS43-4,  and  the  office  was 
sale  lasted  nearly  a  week.  The  first  day ; then  transferred  to  tiie  auditor  of  State  .Jar.- 
wa.s  cold  and  raw  with  a  high  wind,  and  a'uar}-,  1844,  and  the  business  closed  up  by 
man  at  the  s:ile  came  near  being  killed  by  lum. 

a  falling  limb.  Tliere  were  many  buyers'  Until  1S21  the  centre  and  north  oart  o: 
present  botli  citizen.-;  and  strangers,  and  the  State  was  included  in  Delaware  V-ounlv 
Carter's,  Hawkins'  and  Rowland's  taverns,  yet  unorganii:eel  but  attached,  for  judicial 
as  well  as  many  of  the  private  house-;,  were  purposes,  to  Fayette  and  "Wayu'.;  counties, 
thronged  with  guests;  comp>etitiou  was  briskwhose  courts  had  concurrent'  jurisdiction^ 
and  high  prices  were  obtained.  The  main  The  people  in  the  new  purcb.-ise  we-.e  sued 
settlement  w.-'.s  near  the  river,  but  lots  to  and  indicted  in  the  court.«"at  Connersville  and 
the  cast  and  north  sold  best,  for  the  unusual  other  points  on  Whitewater,  and  the  co>ts 
sickness  during  the  Summer  and  Fall  (here-'often  exceetled  the  debt,  damages  or  fines. 
after  mentioned)  had  convinced  the  people  Confiicts  of  jurisdictiDU  also  occurred,  ill- 
they  must  leave  the  river  neighborhood,  feeling  was  aroused,  and  tlie  people  here 
Each  four  acre  block  was  divided  into  1'2  finally  rebelk-d  against  it.  To  prevent 
lots  tJ7A  by  195  feet,  and  the  alternate  lots  trouble  the  assembly,  Jamuiry  9,  1S21,  au- 
were  rocrved  begiiuung  with  number  one.  thorized  the  appointment  of  two  justices  of 
Three  bundled  and  l(jurteen  lots  in  theceii-'the  peace  for  the  new  settlements,  aptpeals 
tral  and  northern  parts  of  the  old  plat  were  lying  from  them  to  the  Bartiiolomew  circuit 
sold  for  S^>o,5l^^^,l;o,  one-fifth  or  S7,irj,25!conrt.  In  April  Governor  Jennim.'H  ap- 
down  and  the  balance  in  four  equal  annual' pointed  John  ^[axwell,  of  this  place,  a  ju.-- 
installments.  The  lot  west  of  court  square  tice  of  the  peace,  the  tirtt  judicial  otiicer 
on  Washington  street  sold  highest,  SofJO,  in  the  new  purchase,  but  he  resicr.ed  in 
and  the  siiuilar  lot  west  of  state  square-.June,  and  the  citizens  elected  .James  McII- 
brought  S5U0.  Intervening  lots  on  the|vain,  who  was  duly  commissioned  in  0'-:o- 
street  sold  from  Sl0<)  to  8300.  One  hun-!ber.  His  twelve  loot  cabin  stood  on  tlie 
drcd  and  sixty-riinc  lots  sold  at  this  timeuiorth-we^t  corner  of  Pennsylvania  arai 
were  afterward  forteited  e>r  exchanged  by  Michigan  streets,  where  he  held  court,  pipe 
the  buyers  for  othen-;.  The  reserved  and  in  mouth,  in  his  cabin  door,  the  jury  ranged 
forfeited  lots  were  repeatedly  ofiered  at  sub-iin  front  on  a  fallen  tree,  and  the  first  con- 
se<|uent  periods,  both  at  public  and  private  stable,  Corbaley,  standing  guard  ever  t^'e 
sale;  but  money  was  scarce,  the  town  im-,cidprits,  who  nevertheless  often  escaj.ed 
I)roved  slowly,  prices  declined  and  fi>r  sev-throuu'h  the  woods.  Calvin  Fletcher  was 
eral  years  iew  sales  were  made.  Nineteen  then  the  only  lawyer,  and  the  last  judge  in 
hundred  acres  of  lots  and  lands  remained  all  the  knotty  cases,  the  justie-e  privately 
uns<:)!d  as  late  as  ISol,  but  were  mostly  dis- Staking  his  advice  as  to  their  dispo-a!. 
pfjsed  of  in  that  year  by  order  of  the  le^ds-  There  was  no  jail  nearer  than  Conne:-sville. 
lature,  the  minimum  price  being  ten  dollars^and  it  being  expensive  and  troublesome  to 
{»er  acre.  The  amount  received  up  to  1842,  send  culprits  there  in  charge  of  the  co;;sta- 
when  the  sales  were  ended  and  closed,  wasble  and  posse,  the  plan  was  aito[.teil  of 
about  S125,0<iiJ,  and  from  this  fund  the' fri^-htening  them  away.  A  case  of  thi- kind 
state  house,  court  house,  Governor's  circle, 'occurred  on  Christmas,  1S21.  Four  Ken- 
clerk's  office  and  trea-urer's  house  and  otfice  tucky  boatmen,  wlio  had  '"  wliipped  their 
were  built.  General  Carr  received  the  svei'jht  in  wild  cats"  on  the  Kanawha  and 
money  and  made  the  deeds  at  the  first  .sale,  elsewhere,  came  from  thebiuus  to  "Naplis" 
HLs  c'abin  stood  on  Dela-vare  street  where  to  have  a  Christmxs  spree."  it  began  early, 
Hereth's  block  now  stands,  and  the  electiott^for  the  citizens  were  roused  before  dawn  by 
were  held  and  the  courts  began  there  till  a  great  uproar  at  Daniel  Larklns  clapb.oard 
the  court  house  was  built.  He  was  api>oint-  grocery,  wfuch  contained  a  barrel  of  whi-ky. 
ed  in  1S21  at  a  salary  of  S'>i0.  but  it  was  The  fclur  licroes  were  di-covered  bu-^ily  em- 
re<iuccd  next  vear  to  .;r;J00,  and  he  resigned  ployed  in  tearing  it  down.     A   request  to 


INDIANAPOLIS  FliOM  1818. 


dtsi.-.i  produced  a  volley  of  oatlis,  a  dL-ijilaythe  coiinrry  and  the  want  of  roads  tlio  .^-t- 
of  big  knives,  and  an  advance  on  the  clti-  tlement  was  almost  entirely  isolati-d.  Tlie 
zuis,  most  of  whom  immediately  found  pres-:  national  road  had  been  desio-ned  to  ma  tif- 
siiig  busine^  elsewhere.  _  They  were  inter- teen  miles  south  of  this  point  before  the  site 
ested,  however,  in  tlie  existence  of  the  gro-  was  chosen,  but  tiie  assembly,  Jjnuarv  S. 
eery,  and  furthermore  sucli  defiance  of  lawlS'il,  memoriali/.ed  conirress,  stating  the  lo- 
and  order  could  not  be  tolerated.  A  con- cation  of  the  capital,  and  a.'^'kin'.;  that  it  be 
sultatiori  was  held,  rc'^ulcing  in  the  determi-'made  a  puint  on  the  line.  This  was  after- 
nation  to  take  the  rioters  at  all  hazards.  1  ward  conceded,  to  the  great  jov  of  the  peo- 
James  Blake  volunteered  to  grapple  the' jde.  but  the  road  was  not  commenced  in  this 
leader,  a  man  of  great  size  and  strength,  if  .State  till  ISSO,  and  was  abandoned  in  IS'VJ 
the  rest  would  take  the  three  others.  Thed)efore  Its  completion,  leaving  the  town  still 
attack  wa.s  made,  the  party  captured  and; in  the  mud.  Ii  is  impossible,  at  present, 
marched  under  guard  throui,di  tlie  woods  to- with  our  railroads  and  goixl  common  roads] 
jtistlce  Mcllvaine's  cabin,  where  they  were;to  realize  the  situation  of  the  earlv  settlers 
at  once  tried,  heavily  fined  and  ordered  to  niter  a  Spring  thaw  or  a  loni;  wei  siHill, 
jail  at  Coiiners-viUe  in  deiault  of  payment  of  separated  iroin  civilization  bv  sixtv  miles  of 
bail.  Payment  was  out  of  the  que.-tion,  and; mud  and  slu.-h,  with  unbridged  streams, 
they  could  not  be  taken  ti:i  (.'onnersville  atjloatincr  corduroys  and  fatliomless  mud 
that  season  of  tlie  year.  Ostenttuious  pre-i holes.  Ilor.-e-back  travel  over  the  so  called 
parations  were  made,  however,  for  the  trip,! roads  was  often  a  serious  business,  and  with 
lue  postie  was  selected  for  tlie  journey  nexta  team  an  impossibility.  1.  ntil  a  comp.ira- 
day,  a  guardwas  placed  over  them  with'tively  late  perio<l  a  "stage"  oiten  con.-i^ted 
S'cret  instructions,  and  during  tlie  night  the  of  the  four  wheels  and  axles,  on  which 
dotighty  heroes  tied  to  more  congenial j balanced  a  crate  contalnin!;  one  or  two 
climes.  |wet,  muddy,  half-fro-^en  passengers,  drag-jred 

But  the  Fayette  and  "Wayr.e  county  courtSj  wearily  into  town  by  luur  or  six  hordes 
still  claimed  jurisdiction,  ai^.d  the  annoyance|  looking  like  animated"  mas-cs  of  mud. 
thorefrom  continued.  Doubts  eyisted  as  to'  The  Summer  of  1821  was  distiniruished 
tl-.e  le<rality  of  Maxwell  and  Mcllvain's  ap-; by  the  general  sickness  rosul:in<r,  it  was 
pointments,  and  a  meeting  was  held  at j thought,  irom  the  hea\y  fall  of  rain.  It  Ls 
liawkins'  log  tavern,  late  in  the  Fall,  to  de-j'^aid  that  storms  occurred,  every  dny  in  .June, 
vise  some  remedy  for  the  dilhcuky.  It  was' July  and  August.  Clouds  would  .suddenly 
re.-olved  to  demand  the  organization  of  a'triuher  and  send  a  deluL'e  of  water,  then  as 
new  county,  and  James  Blake  and  Dr.  S.^quickly  break  away,  wiiile  the  sun's  rays 
G.  Mitcliell  were  selected  as  lobby  members,  fairly  scDrched  the  drenched  herbage,  gen- 
to  attend  at  C'orydon  and  secure  it.  'erating  miasmatic  vapors  with  no  wind  to 

The  Summer  of  1821  was  noted  for  con-!carry  them  off.  Sickne-^s  boaan  in  .Tuly 
tinuous  and  heavy  rains.  Tliere  is  little;but  did  not  become  general  till  alter  the  lOrh 
doubt  that  much  more  water  fell  forty  years|of  August,  on  which  day  Matthias  Nowland 
ago  than  now.  Storms  of  wind,  rain  and; had  a  ral^ine,  all  the  men  in  the  settlement 
thunder,  were  more  fret^uent  and  violent ;! assisting.  Kemittant  and  intermittant  fe- 
streams  rose  higlier  and  remained  full  vers,  of  a  peculiar  type,  then  betran,  and  in 
longer;  sections  now  dry  were  then  %'ery  three  weeks  the  conununity  Was  prustrated. 
swampy;  and  bayous  ran  bank  full  that  are  Thomas  Chinn.  Enocli  Banks  and  Nancey 
now  unknown.  To  travel  even  a  few  miles; Hendricks,  were  the  only  persons  who  es- 
was  sometimes  a  desperate  undertakintr.  and;cajH?d.  Though  so  general  the  di-ease  was 
teams  were  often  stopped  for  weeks  !)y  high  I  not  deadly.  alx)Ut  twenty-five  only,  mostly 
water.  The  whole  country  was  wooded  and Ichildren  who  had  been  too  much  exposed, 
wet;  the  air  was  dumper,  modJlying  the  dying  out  of  several  hundred  cases.  The 
"Winter  cold  and  .Summer  heat;  the  wind: few  who  could  go  about  devoted  their  time 
generally  came  from  the  south  and  west,  to  the  sick,  and  many  instances  of  generous 
and  the  climate  was  milder  and  more  uni-; devoted  friendsliip  occurred.  Their  mutual 
form  than  now.  As  the  tim!)er  and  s^vampstsutferim,'  at  this  time  bound  the  early  sett- 
disappeared  the  air  grew  dryer,  f"gs  were  lers  together  in  after  life,  and  none  recur  to 
less  frequent,  winds  had  more  sweep  and  this  period  without  emotion.  Newcomers 
came  oilener  from  the  north,  variations  of  were  dLsJieartened  at  the  prospect,  and  some 
heat  and  CH:(ld  increased,  till  at  present  the' left  the  c.-untry  circulating  extravagant  re- 
cultivatioii  of  peaches, — formerly  a  certainjxirts  about  the  health  of  the  town,  greatly 
crop, — lias  lieen  abandoned;  and  if  the  retarding  its  sub.-equent  u'rowth.  I)i.-ea.-e 
change  continues  with  the  detbre^^ting  of  that  yetir  was  L'cneral  in  the  West.  It  was 
the  country,  it  is  questionable  whether  other  little  greater  here  than  elsewhere,  and  the 
crops  be^ides  peaches  will  not  be  lo-t.  ; relative  mortality  was  scarcely  so  great.     It 

In  consequence  of  the  wet   conditiorw  of  abated  here  by  the  end  of  October,  the  gen- 


LOGAN'S   HISTORY  OF 


eral  health  wa.s  soon  after  eruiroly  restored.  Winter  and  Sprinc.  Jolin  Hawkin*  h.ad 
and  the  people  bu-ily  ensrai^ed  in  prepara-  Ijuilt  a  lo<j  tavern  earlv  in  the  Fall,  where 
tion-  fur  die  Minter.   _  the  Saiflnd  otHce  now  stands,  u>irs  I'oes  oi:t 

The  sickne.-i:  having  prevented  proper  from  the  ?ite  and  tlie  street,  and'soden.-e 
cultivation  of  the  common  lield,  and  the  \vas  the  timber  and  undcrarowth  that  a 
throng  of  ptram^ers  at  the  lot  sale  havin<r' person  at  that  tavern  eoiild  nr^t  see  I-aac 
consumed  all  surplus  food,  alxoluie  starva-;  Lynch"s  house  and  siioe  shop  where  o  and 
tion  impended  over  the  settlement.  2so:7'west  "Wasliimrton  now  are,  and  it  took 
roads  or  mills  whatever  existed,  and  all  nearly  a  half  mile  travel  to  go  from  one 
provisions  and  .snoods  had  to  be  packed  on  point"  to  the  other.  The  work  of  clearintr 
horses  sixty  mile^  through  the  wilderness  and  burning  steadilv  prcirressed,  and  bv  tlie 
from  'Whitewater.  Kegular  expeditions  close  of  the  Sprin?  of  1S22  the  people  re- 
were  organized  for  procuring  fnod.  Flour  Joiced  at  hein-j  able  to  take  a  wa':r<>n  along 
and  meal  were  broui^ht  on  lion-cback  from  a  zig  zas  path  on  and  near  the  street  for  a 
G(X)dlander's  mill  on  Whitewater,  then  the'considerable  part  of  its  length, 
nearest  one,  and  corn  was  bought  and  boated.  The  tirst  marrian-e,  lir-t"' birth  and  first 
down  in  canoes  and  rafts  from  the  Indian  death,  occurred  during  the  Summer  of 
villages  np  the  river.  Tlie  arrival  of  sup-|lS-Jl.  The  tirst  marriage  was  that  of  Jere- 
plies  from  eirher  of  tli.se  points  excited;miah  John.-on  to  Miss  Jane  Keagan.  He 
general  joy  amom;  the  lialf  sick  and  half; walked  to  t'onnersville  and  back,  one  hun- 
starved  people.  They  aided  each  other  in'dred  and  twenty  miles,  for  the  license,  and 
this  new  distress  as  in  tiie  former  one,  and: had  lo  wait  seseral  weeks  for  a  preacher  to 
many  pecks  of  meal,  poimds  of  flour,  baom,  come  along  and  marry  them.  lie  died  at 
fish  and  other  articles  of  fed,  were  given i his  residence  near  the  city  April  5,  1857. 
more  destitute  neighbors.  JMordecai  Harding    (still  'living, l  was   the 

Emigrants  were  constantly  arrivinjr  dur-i tirst  person  born  on  the  donation,  and 
ing  the  year  ending  August  1,  1S21,  byi.James  Morrow,  the  first  in  the  ohl  towu 
which  time  tJiere  were  fifty  or  sixty  resident'plat.  The  first  death  was  th.at  of  Daniel 
families.  The  October  sales  attracted  other.-;SliafTer,  the  first  merchant  of  the  place,  who 
and  by  the  end  of  the  year  tiie  popnlatlonjhad  come  in  January,  I'S'il,  and  kept  a  few 
was  estimated  at  four  or  five  hundred. 'goods  and  groceries  at  his  cabin  on  the  hieh 
Many,  however,  were  only  waiting  till  theirjground  south  of  Poc:u<  's  run,  near  Pennsyl- 
cabins  v.ere  built  in  the  country  to  moTe|vania  street.  He  died  in  May  or  Jutie  and 
out.  Obed  Foote,  Calvin  ITetcher,  James j was  btiried  in  Pogne's  run  valley,  near 
Blake,  Alexander  W.  Kusscl,  Caleb  .Scud-| Pennsylvania  street,  but  was  taken  np  and 
der,  Nicholas  McCarty,  George  .Smith,  Na-ireburied  in  the  old  graveyard  August  'loih. 
thaniel  Bolton,  Wilkes  Keagan  and  others.jTlie  first  woman  who  died  was  Mrs.  Max- 
arrived  during  the  Summer  and  Fall  of! well,  wife  c>f  John  Maxwell,  dyinir  July  3d, 
1S'21.  The  wet  and  sickly  Summer  wa^rand  buried  en  the  4th  on  the  higli  ground 
succeeded  in  October  by  a  long  and  btauti-  near  the  Crawfordsville  road  bridge  over 
ful  Indian  Summer.  The  sick  recovered; Fall  cretk.  Eight  per.-ons  were  buried 
health  and  spirits,  business  improved,  newjthere  during  the  Summer  and  Fall.  Xo 
and  better  cabins  wi-re  luiilc  further  fromicemetery  had  Vieen  set  apart  in  the  oriL'inal 
the  river,  for  the  settlentent  lelt  the  river  survey,  b\it  .Judge  Plarrison,  at  the  request 
after  the  sickness,  though  it  was  still  maiidyjof  the  people,  assigned  tiie  lot  on  the  river 
west  of  the  can;U,  where  a  cluster  of  cabins  afterward  known  as  the  old  buri-ing  ground, 


was  dignified  with  the  title  of  Wilmot's 
row,  Wilmot  keeping  a  little  store  there. 
During  the  Fall  the  timber  on  tlie  streets 
wa.s  ofiered  to  any  one  who  would  cut  it. 
and  as  it  was  largely  composed  of  .-plendid 


and  on  December  31,  1822,  the  assembly 
confirmed  the  grant.  In  the  meantime 
twenty-five  or  thirty  persons  had  been 
buried  tliere.  It  was  covered  with  heavy 
timber  and  undergrowth,  but  at  a  citizens' 


ash,  walnut  and  oak  trees,  Lisnnind  Basyej  meeting  March  10.  1821.  it  was  resolved  to 
accepted  the  grant  as  a  chance  for  fortune.: clear  and  enclose  it.     Nearly  fifty  persons 
and  labored  zealously  in  fellincr  the  trees  on  IkhI  then  been  laid  in  it. 
Washington   street.  '  After  cutting  a   largej     It   may  be   interestiiiL'  to  give  here  tlie 
part  of  the  timber  down  tlie  question  aroseinames  and  dates  of  arrival  of  the  pioneers 


What  will  he  do  witii  it?"  and  as  there 
were  ro  mllLs  to  cut  it  into  limiber,  Basye 


in    the    difierent    trades    and    professions, 
.lohn  McChing,  a  new  lic-ht  minis'er,  came 


was  une<:iual  to  the  answer.  He  had  drawn i in  the  Spring  of  1821,  and  prenched  the 
the  elephant  and  having  <ione  so  abaniionedlfirst  ?erm<;n  here  shortly  after,_in  the  grove 
it.  The  street  was  so  blocked  v/iih  standingjon  the  circle,  the  au'li<'nce  sitting  around 
and  felled  timber  and  undergrowth  that  it i  him  on  the  grass  and  logs  in  Indian  style, 
was  impossible  to  get  throucrii  it,  an<l  theiServiccs  continued  there  during  t!ie  Sum- 
citizens  burnf^i  it  where  it  lav  during  theimer  and   Fall  whenever  the  weather  per- 


I^'DIA^•APOLIS  FROM  1S18. 


mittcJ.  IIo  dk-J  north  of  town  Ac^ist  IS,  John  Maxwell,  justice  of  the  peace,  ^^arch, 
1S"23.  Othcj-  authorities  ?:iy  the  lirst  =er-  1820.  Williiin  W.  Wick,  circuit  judsre. 
mon  wa.*  prc.u'hod  during  the  Sumiuer,  at  Febniary,  1S22.  Plarvey  Bate.-^,  «herit}', 
the  state  hoi;-e  .--iiuai-L'.  by  Rev.  Resin  Ham- PVbruarr,  1^22.  James  J.  Mcllvain  ami 
mond.  James  fcott,  nrvt  Methodist  preach-  Eliakim  Hardin?,  associate  judges,  Sum- 
cr,  was  sent  by  the  St.  Louis  contereuce.'mer  of  1820.  James  M.  Ray.  county  clerk, 
and  reaeh.^  here  October,  1.521.  after  much  Sprin:;  of  1821.  Joseph  C.  Reed,  roiuity 
diliiculty  in  findin^'  the  placv.  O.  P.  recorder.  Spring  of  1821.  John  McCor- 
Gaines,  first  Presbnerlan  minister,  came  mack,  county  cummi<-ioner,  February  27, 
AuiTU-t,  1821.  John  Waters,  first  Ear.t!»t  1820.  John  T.  Osbirn.  county  cnmmission- 
preaclier,  came  Octolier,  ]82o.  Isaac  C'oe,  er,  Spring  of  1821.  Samuel  Henderson,  post- 
physician,  May,  1820.  Calvin  Fletcher,  master.  Fall  of  1821.  'William  P.  Murphy, 
la-vvyer.  September,  1821.  Daniel  Shatfer,  dentist,  November,  1S29.  Elizabeth  Now- 
merchant,  January,  1821,  died  May,  1821. .land,  tirst  boarding  liouse,  Xovember,  1820, 
James  B.  Hall,  carpenter,  Winter  of  IS 20.  began  1823.  Samuel  Beck  bcLran  gtmsmith- 
Matthias  Xowland,  brick-maker  and  ma«nn.  ing  July,  18;-io,  Htill  at  it,  186S,).  Hub- 
Xovember,  182*),  died  November  11,  lS22.'bard,  PIdmunds  l>c  Co.,  hook-store,  began 
Andrew  Byrne,  tailor,  Xoveml;>er,  lS20..May,  18;;;;1.  David  Mallory,  colored  barber, 
Isaac    Lynch,    shoemaker.    Fall    of    1821. :in  Sprino:  of  1821. 

"William  Holmes,  tinner,  Spring  of  IS22.]  Daniel  Shatter  hail  opened  the  first  store 
Michael  Ingals,  teamster.  Fall  of  1S20.  in  February  or  March,  1821,  at  his  cabin 
Kcix.icih  A.  ocuddcr.  Summer  cf  1520,  died  en  the  high  gr""."d  ^ontli  nf  P.-.gne'^  run. 
March  o,  1829,  opened  first  drug  store  in'but  dying  in  May  or  June,  stores  were 
1823.  Wilkes  ReaEran,  butcher  and  auc-'shortly  afterward  opened  by  John  and 
tioneer,  Summer  of  1821.  John  Shiuik, '.James  Given  and  .Jolm  T.  0=bom,  near  the 
hatter,  October,  1821,  died  September  2.  river  bank,  and  by  Wilmof,  at  "Wilmot's 
1S24:. .  Amo.s  Hanway.  cooper,  came  up  the  row,  near  the  present  site  of  the  oLl  Carlisle 
river  in  a  kedboat,  June,  1821.  Conrad, house.  Luke  Walpole  bectan  in  ..ho  Fall 
Brussel,  baker,  P'all  of  1S20.  ,Milo  R.  Da-  or  Winter,  on  the  south-west  corner  of  tlie 
vis,  plasterer.  Winter  of  1820.  George  state  house  square,  and  Jacob  Landis  on 
Norwood,  wairon  maker,  Spring  of  1822.  the  south-east  corner.  Jeremiah  Johnson 
John  McCormuck,  tavern  keeper,  February  also  began  on  the  north-west  corner  of  Mar- 
27,  1820,  died  August  27,  1825.  Georee  ket  and  Pennsylvania  streets.  The  first  log 
Myers,  ^xt^tter.  Fall  of  1S21.  Caleb  S-^ud-  school  ho\ise,  Joseph  C.  lieed  teacher,  was 
der,  cabinet  maker,  October,  1821.  Henry  built  in  1821.  near  a  large  pond  just  west  of 
•and  Sanmel  I -avis,  cliair  makers,  April  or  the  Palmer  house.  P-Ieed  taucrht  a  short 
^Lay,  1820l     Isaac  "Wilson,  miller,  ^LttcIi,  time  being  succeeded  temporarily  by  two  or 

1820.  He  built  the  first  cabin  on  the  old  three  others,  but  no  permanent  school  exist- 
plat,  on  the  nortli-west  corner  of  the  suite  ed  till  after  June  -0.  1822.  when  trustees 
house  square,  in  }*Iarch,  1820,  and  the  itr^^t  were  chosen,  and  Mr.  and  Mr=.  Lawrence 
grist  mill  on  Fall  creek,  north-west  of  Black-selected  as  teachers  by  a  meeting  held  for 
ford's  addition,  in  the  Summer  of  1821,  and  the  purpose  at  the  school  house.  Atter  the 
died  November  4,  1823.  George  Pogiie,  Presbyterian  church  was  finished  and  the 
fii-st  settler  and  blacksmith,  March  2,  1819,  school  opened  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Law- 
killed  by  Indians  April,  1821.  James  Lin-  ranee  taught  there  for  several  years.  The 
ton,    sawyer   and    mill-wrifxht,  S'.inm3.;-r   of  first  frame  and  also  the  first  plastered  ho-.L-^ 

1821,  built  the  first  saw  mUl  on  F.ill  crc-ek.  was  built  in  the  Fall  of  1821,_  by  James 
near  the  Crawfordsville  road  bridire',  in  Blake,  on  the  lot  east  of  Masonic  hall.  Ir 
September  and  October,  1821.  Nathaniel  stood  till  1852,  and  w.as  occupied  jus  the 
Bolton,  editor  and  printer,  Septeml>er,  1S21.  Seiidnel  office  from  1841  to  1844.  _  During 
George  Smith,  printer  and  book-binder,  the  same  Winter  Thomas  Carter  built  a  two 
AugtJst,  1821,  began  book-binding  M^rch,  story  ceiled  frame  tavern,  (the  first  two 
1823.  Joseph  C.  Reed,  teacher  and  county  story  house,)  eishteen  by  twenty  feet,  at  40 
Jtcorder,  Spring  of  1821.  Sai.iuel  Walton,  west  Washington  street.  It  waslong  kno%vn 
spinning  wheel  maker,  October,  1826,  R.  as  the  Ro~ebush  tavern  from  its  sicm.  It 
A.  Mcpherson,  first  foundry,  July,  1S:32.  was  afterward  moved  to  the  vioinitv  of  the 
Samuel  S.  Rooker,  hou.-e  and  sign  painter,  canal,  arrd  atrain  to  a  point  near  the  sol- 
Fall  of  1321.  Daniel  Yandes,  tanner,  Jan-  dicrs  home,  where  it  is  yet  standing.  James 
uary,  1821.  John  Ambrozene,  watch  and  Linton  built  the  first  saw  mill  in  .-ep'enuH^r 
clock  maker,  February,  1825.  .James  I'.x-  and  October,  1821,  on  Fall  creek,  ab.ne  the 
ton,  militia  colonel,' October.  1821.  <Ii,.d  Crawfordsville  bri<ise;  and  about  t!;c  same 
April  5,1829.  Samuel  Morrow,  licut.  c-lo-jime  he  built  the  fir^t  grist  mill,  u^r  Ls:uic 
nel,  Spring  or  Summer  of  l82'J.  Alexan-  Wilson,  on  Fall  creek  bayou  north-v%-est  oi 
der    W.    Russell,    major,   Spring   of    1^21.; Blackford's  addition.     Until  this  mill  was 


u 

V 

"B  ^'^ 

^i 

■, 

finivhed  tlio  people  sent  sixty  miles  to  healthier  and  better  housed  and  ncqnainted 
Goodiander's  lor  rionr  and  meal,  or  hulled  became  sociable  anrl  nierrv.  Dances,  (iiiilr- 
hominy  in  a  stump  mortar.  The  mili=  nf-  inirs  and  weddings  were  "fre<-inent.  'Candi- 
terward  built  here  had  no  boltinEr  clotlis,  dates  were  numerous  and  busilv  canvar^-iniy 
and  tine  tiour  was  n<u  made  here  tnitil  the  tor  the  county  olhces.  Cl.ri.-tmas  brou^ml 
steam  mill  was  built  in  1&;>2.  Linton  also  its  round  of  Jestivities,  and  the  V.'inter  ikis- 
built  the  lirst  two  story  frame  dwciruiij  in  sed  pleasantly  in  spite  of  p;i,st  sickness, 
the  Spring  of  18-J2,  at  7ti  we-t  Wasldm^ton  threatened  fai'uine  and  cold,  which  was  l>oth 
street.  It  was  burned  durin,;,^  the  Winter  ol  severe  and  protracteiL  The  snow  was  deep 
1S47.  The  hrst  market  hon-o  was  built  in  and  large  1>l;s  were  hauled  on  the  ice  in 
the  maple  grove  on  the  circle,  in  May.  the  river,  but  fuel  at  le;v<t  was  plenty,  and 
IS'22,  and  V/ilkes  K<  agan  lirst  sold  meat  with  lar^re  chimneys,  great  back-loirV  and 
there  iu  June.     Tlie  tirst  brick  house  Avas;  roaring  fires,  the  inmates  of  the  rude  cabins 

Ibid  defiance  to  the  weather. 
i      1S22.     The  assembly,  on  the  3d  of  Jani;- 
j7^r— ^  .- -_         —1^'     -^ L---r^^£=Kj  '.      \^^y^  ordered  the   unsold  lots  to  be  leased, 
.--:-.;-:'".  :;;;;,5^__    ^^^^^   i      [the  le-^sees  to   clear  them  in  four  months. 
'/-i'    "'■-  '^5^    '"•   ^:-^"    ■      jTwo  acres  were  to  be  sold  for  a  hrick-vard, 

■  ^^^  :;'nd  a  three  year  lease  given  of  the  ferrv. 
I  Lands  in  we-<t  Indianapolis  were  lea-ett  in 
I  lots  of  five  to  twenty  acr-^s.  Improvements 
ion  unsold  lots  could  be  removed  in  fortv 
jdays  after  s;ile.  One  hundred  thousand 
I  dollars  were  soon  after  ap[iropriatad  to  cut 
I  roads  through  the  wilderness. 
j  The  Indianapolis  Gazette,  the  first  jour- 
[nal  in  the  new  purch.i--e,  edited  printed  and 
:  published  by  Georire  Santh  ar.d  XatltanS;! 
__       _  -    ^.  ,      [Bolton,  v,-as  first  is.-ued  January  2>'th,  from 

„^    ^.    ,  „      ,    ,,         ,  '      I"-  cabin  south-west  of  the  intersection  of  the 

(ine  i-irst  Brick  House.)  L,^„.,i  „„a  vr,_,.i,„  i     *       .       t-i,        az 

^  '  |Canal  ana  3iaryland  street,     ihe  otnce  was 

built  for  John  Johnson,  begun  in  18'22  andj moved    to   the   present   theatre  corner  the 

fiaished  in  the  Fall  of  1823,  on  the  lot  east  next  year,  and  a  few  years  afterward  to  enst 

of  PvobertV  chapel  and  is  yet  -tanding.  j  Washington  street  near  Glenn's  block.    The 

Doubts  havinar  arisen  a.s  to  the  validity  ink'  used  on  the  first  numbers  was  a  tar 
of  the  survey  and  sales,  Harrison  only  hav-lcomposition.  The  paper  appeared  irregu- 
ing  acted,  the  assembly  confirmed  thcmdarly,  the  mails  being  so  infrequent  that 
2^ovember  28th,  and  on  the  31st  of  Decem-'news  matter  conld  not  be  obtained  to  fill 
ber  pa.ssetl  an  act  organizing  Marion  county,  the  column*,  but  several  E:ail  routes  were 
The  organization  to  be  com})lete  April  1,  opened  in  April  and  May  and  that  ditficul- 
1822.  Square  fiity-eight, — court  S(iuare, — jty  was  measureably  obviated.  The  second 
was  made  the  permanent  seat  of  justice.insmiber  appeared  February  11th,  third  the 
Eight  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  to^2-jth,  fourth  March  tjth,  fil'th  the  ISth,  sixth 
build  a  two  story  brick  court  house,  fifty: April  3d,  seventh,  May  4tli,  after  which 
feet  square,  to  be  completed  in  three  vears.j'late  it  appeared  weekly  till  discontinued  in 
and  used  by  the  State,  federal  and  county i  1831.  Heavy  rains  fell  in  April  tior^ding 
courts  forever,  and  by  the  asseiubly  for  fifiyjthe  country,  and  as  the  editors  happened  to 
years  or  till  a  State  house  was  built.  Two  be  absent  when  the  flood  came,  they  vrere 
pir  cent,  of  the  lot  fund  was  devoted  to|stopped  by  high  water  for  a  month,  sus- 
county  librar)'.  The  sessions  of  the  courts  spending  publication  tVjm  April  Sd  to  May 
were  to  be  held  at  Carr's  house.  Johnson. i4th.  B.  F.  Morris  became  editor  May  3, 
Hamilton,  and  most  of  Bcwjne,  ^L^dis<:>n|182i.  Smhh  ^^  Bolton  dis-olved  April  27, 
and  Hancock  counties,  were  attached  tojl823,  Bolton  continued  tlie  paper  ab.>ut  a 
Marion  for  judicial  purpos<-3.  Marion,!year,  when  they  rejoined  and  published 
Lawrence,  Monroe,  Morgan,  Greene,  Ov\en,i'togetber  rill  July  23, 1829,  when  tliey  again 
Hendricks,  Kush,  Decatur,  r-irtiiolnniev.-.  'li-solved.  Eolton  continued  it  tiil  al'ter 
Shelby  and  .Jen'ungs  counties,  con>tltutedithe  Indiana  Democrat  ^s-^?,  issued,  when  the 
the  fifth  judicial  circuit.  AVilliam  W.;lisi  of  sub.^ribers  was  transferred  to  that 
"Wick  was  elected  judire  and  Harvey  Bates'paper. 

was  commissioned'sheriir  by  Governor  Jen-}  The  Gazette  of  February  2o,  1S22,  stated 
nings.  Both  gentlemen  were  from  White-ithat  much  improvement  was  troing  on. 
water,  and  arrived  here  in  Februarv  ori  Forty  dwellings  and  several  w<jrk.diops  had 
March,  1822.  "         [been  built,  a  grist  and  two  s;tw  mills  were 

During   the    Winter,    the    people    beingjrunning  and  others  being  built  near  town. 


I>'DlAXAPOLIS  FEOM   ISIS. 


There  wer?  thirteen  carpenter^;,  four  cabinet' 
nr.ikers,  eiirht  blaeksniiths,  tour  shoemaker:?, 
two  tailors,  one  hatter,  two  tanners,  one  sad- 
dler, one  coo|)er,  four  brick-layers,  two  mer- 
chants, three  grocers,  four  physicians,  three 
lawyers,  one  preaclier,  one  teacher,  and 
seven  tavern  keepers.  Tiiis  list  gives,  per- 
perhaps,  half  ti>e  adult  population  of  the 
place. 

Harvey  Bates,  slieritr,  by  proclamation^ 
Februrry  22,  directed  an  election  un  April 
1st,  for  two  associate  jiulires,  a  clerk,  record- 
er, and  three  county  commissioners.  The 
votinsT  precincts  were  at  C'an-'s  house,  John 
Finch's,  near  (pinner's  station,  John  Fatje's, 
StraAvtown,  John  Berry's,  Andersontown, 
and  "William  McCartney's  on  Fall  creek 
near  Pendleton.  Keturns  were  to  be  for- 
warded by  the  3d  of  A{«ril.  James  Pacre, 
Robert  Patterson,  Jamc-  Mcllvain,  Eliakin 
Hardinir,  Johti  Smock  and  Kev.  John 
^IcClung  Were  candidates  for  associate 
jud.ses.  Jame-  M.  Kay,  3lilo  E.  Davis,' 
Morris  Morris,  Thoma.^  Anders,  m  and  John 
'\y.  Ked.'.inc'  for  ckrk.  Alexander  Kaiston.' 
James  Linton,  J(  -epli  C.  Peed,  Aaron 
Drake,  John  Givans,  John  Hawkins,  Wil-' 
liam  Vaiide^rift  and  William  Townsend.j 
for  recorder,  and  twelve  or  tifteen  candi- 
dates fi^r  county  commissioners.  Nearly 
half  the  population  were  candidates  for 
some  office,  and  all  were  busily  c-anvassin?. 
Xominating  conventions  were  unknown  and 
each  rtm  on  his  personal  merit.  The 
"Whitewater  and  Kentucky  emigrants  had 
brought  their  local  prejiKiices  and  candi- 
dates v.ith  tliem.  Janses  !M.  Ray  repre- 
sented the  first,  and  Morris  Morris  the  Last 
party.  The  canviiAs  was  thorough  and  the 
excitement  culminated  at  the  election. — 
Whisky  flowed  freely.  Persons  usually 
sober,  excited  by  victory  or  grieved  at  de- 
feat, joined  in  the  spree  and  the  whole 
community  got  drunk.  Many  Kenturkian- 
had  lived  here  less  than  a  year  and  had  no 
vote,  and  the  "Whitewater  party  In^-ing  ably 
maauged  defeated  them.  Tb.e  Kentuckians. 
however,  after'.vard  outvote<l  and  outgener- 
alled  their  oppi>nents.  James  >[clivain 
and  Elinkin  Harding  vrere  chosen  associate 
judges;  James  3(1.  Kay,  clerk;  Joseph  C. 
Keeil,  recorder ;  and  .John  T.  Osborn,  John 
McCormack  and  "William  McCartney,  coun- 
ty commissioners.  Two  himdred  and  twen- 
ty-four votes  were  cast  here,  nearly  halt 
being  from  residents  on  the  donation,  and 
3o(j  votes  were  cast  in  the  county,  which 
then  included  most  of  the  present  adjoin- 
ing counties.  James  M.  Kay  got  217  votes, 
the  highest  for  any  candidate.  The  county 
bfiard  orsranized  and  "field  their  f:r-t  session 
April  !■'),  at  the  corner  of  Ohio  and  Meri- 
dian streets,  and  divided  the  county  into 
Fall  creek,  AndersoUj  White   river,  Dela- 


ware, Lawrence,  Washington,  Pike,  War- 
ren, Centre,  Wayne.  Fr-.inklin,  Perry  and 
Decatur  townships,  but  several  of  these  were 
unitfd  for  township  purj-^ises  for  want  of 
population. 

Xo  prst  routes  or  otiice  was  opened  here 
till  March,  1S22.  The  mails  had  been 
brought,  until  that  date,  from  Connersvilie 
at  ditilrcnt  intervals,  by  private  hands. 
A  citizens'  meeting  was  held  at  Hawkins' 
tavern.  January  30.  to  t,ike  mcasuies  f(jr  a 
regular  private  mail.  Aaron  I>rake  wa3 
chosen  postmaster.  He  issued  a  circular  to 
postmiL-ters  stating  the  fact  and  askin?  that 
letters  lor  this  point  be  seiu  to  Connersvilie. 
He  returned  from  tiie  first  trip  after  night- 
fall, his  horn  soundinir  far  through  the 
woods,  arou-ing  the  peor)le  who  turned  cut 
in  the  bright  moonlight  to  .greet  him  and 
learn  the  news.  This  erfbrt  arcnsetl  the 
frovernment.  and  in  February  President 
Moiiroe  appointed  Samuel  Henderson  post- 
master. He  opened  tne  orhce  Marcii  itii 
or  8:h,  and  on  the  od  of  April  publislied 
the  first  letter  list  of  five  letters  to  old  resi- 
dent^. Henderson  continued  in  otnce  till 
removed  by  Jackson  in  February,  P^ol, 
bein?  succeeded  by  John  Cain,  who  rcsiirn- 
ed  in  1841.  Joseph  M.  Moore  then  held  it 
till  l-^4o.  John  Cain  ac:a!n  held  it  until  1^49. 
Alexander  W.  Kussell  succeeded  in  1>49, 
dying  in  ofiice,  and  his  s-jd,  James  N.  Kus- 
sell, was  appointed  for  the  balance  of  his 
term.  William  W.  Wick  held  it  from  l^-^3 
to  ISoT;  John  M.  Talbott  till  ISoi ;  Alex- 
ander H.  Conner  till  lS6o ;  and  D.  G.  Kose 
till  the  present  time.  The  otfice  was  first 
kept  near  the  canal,  then  at  Hender-on's 
tavern,  then  on  the  north  side  of  Washing- 
ton west  of  Meridian  street,  then  in  the 
present  Hubbard's  block  on  south  Meriilian 
street,  then  in  Blackford's  old  buildin?  op- 
posite, from  which  it  was  moved  in  l>ul  to 
the  LTi'venmient  building  on  north  Pennsyl- 
vania street. 

Plans  for  a  court  house  were  calleil  for  by 
the  ctimmissioners  May  22.  That  of  John 
E.  Baker  and  James  Paxton  was  chosen, 
and  the  contract  given  them  in  September. 
The  hoiL-se  was  begun  the  next  Summer  and 
fiiiished  in  the  Fall  of  1824  at  a  cost  cf 
S14  '.i^W.  Wilkes  Reagan,  Obed  IVjOte.  and 
Lismimd  Basye,  were  elected  jusiicts  May 
23.  The  sherin'  was  directed  in  M".y  to 
oi.tain  prop.<x-als  for  building  a  Jail  and 
clearing  the  criurt  h(  use  square,  both  tc-  be 
completed  by  the  first  of  August.  James 
Blake  induced  the  board  to  save  two  hun- 
dred of  the  young  maples  growing  on  the 
sfjuare,  but  nd  spec-ifie  instructions  l)eing 
sriven  t'ne  contractor  left  two  hundred  of 
the  largest  trees  on  the  tnct,  and  when  the 
surrounding  forest  was  cut  away  tjie  storms 
so  damaged  tliem  that  all  had  to  be  cut 


10  LOFAX'S   HISTORY  OF 


down.     The  jail  was  a  two  story  hewed  Iciir  iran   St.'ptenil>er   2(>.   1822,  at    Carr's   ciiLin, 

house,  built  in   July  and    Au:^u.-t,    in    tlie  William  W.  Wick  prt-sidin?  ju.'!:;e,  James 

uorth-wi-.t   corner  of  the  square,  ar.d  'A-asMcIlviiin  and  PZliakim  Hardin-  a^-:.H•iale?, 

used   till   lS.'>-t   when   it   w;.:?  burned    by  a  James  M.    Kav,    elerk,  Kaivev  Ikue.*  S^her- 

ne(?ro  prisoner,  wlio  was  aeariy  sufiociited  iti".     After  oruanizins  ihe  euiirt  adjoi;rned 

before  being  rescued.     Its  foundations  were  to   C'rumbauLrh's   hou<e  west  of  tiic    canal. 

visible  till  filk-il  over    in  lSo2.     After  its, Calvin  Fletcher  was  appointed  prc>secutin? 

w- -  ■  'Zf^r-^^=^^^^_  i attorney  for  ths  first  three  terms,  bcin.;;  suc- 

,=s^45:-^  '  ':r^'^=^^^  |ceeded    by  II;;rTey  Gretrir,  Hiram   Lrown, 

c^^V.^'-""    --     ""  ^    "!^=^iu  j William  (^UDrk-s  and    otiiers.     There   wc-re 

,.^^:     -  ---:.'._:;.:' ^  ' '•'~/^^  ;thirteen  ciri!  caii-es  on  tiie  docket   at   the 

^^'  ""4  ;tirst  term.     The  first  case  tried  was  Lhmiel 

^^  '^^^<£-~~''"i-  ""'       "-^  iBowman  vs.  Meridy  Edwards,  action  on  tiie 

-^:  I     B[      j.-:-i     T  J;     I''-.  lca.se.      Tli«   erand  jury.    Jo~eph   C    Keed 

^t  'I  i'i  i.  _"      *"^     I  jforeman,  returned   twenty-two  indictments, 

''9-      '      \     te^      H^  T     '^!     ^s  ^^i^  of  ^'hich  were  non  prossed.     The  first 

^  \     JSi       .'     ■     ^_      ^^  ! criminal  caiie  tried  was  the  State  vs.  Ji^hn 

^"  .^-.^._^;_.,iV- >--^-~-  '    4  I'Wyant  for  soiling  whisky  without  license, 

%L  "^^^^^£^;~  ."  -;»^  -AwH  nearly  all  the  rest  were   like  unto  it. 

fe    _:  -    -■  -r  -         ■•      _4i;  :The  term  la?ted  throe  days  and  eleven  at- 

^^x,..^^.r^J^-^^^^^__;__ : :'  „>-^^;,^^^£53s>-  jtorueys  were    present,  five   of  them    being 

~^  ircsidciii.-^.     Ivicharu  vfuc>u,  aii  Irishiiuiii,  waa 

i.Tlie  Flr^t  .ni.l.)  naturalized  on  the  fir.^t  d?y.     John  Ila-.vk- 

destruction  the  old  brick  jail  was  built  east  ins  was  iicen-ed  to  keep  tavern  and  -ell 
of  the  court  house  and  used  lili  1345,  when  whisky.  ''  Prison  bounds."  beyond  wiiic;i 
a  hewed  log  jail  was  added  just  north  of  it.  no  debtor  under  arrc-t  could  go,  were  estab- 
These  were  torn  away  on  the  completion  of  lished  alone:  certain  streets  the  fir;t  day. 
tlie  present  stone  jail  begun  in  l>o2,  finish-  The  first  tlivorco  case  was  brouglu  at  the 
ed  in  1S54,  and  since  enlarged  at  a  total  May  term,  1S23,  Elias  Stallcup  vs.  Ruth 
cost  of  cOU,OUiJ.  Stallcup.     The  .-second  session  of  the  court 

Arrantrenients  for  the  first  Fourth  of  .July  becan  at  Carr's  May  5,  1823,  and  adjourn- 
celebration  were  iuade  at  a  meeting  June  ed  to  Henderson's  tavern  where  Glenn's 
17th,  at  Hawkins'  tavern.  The  celeljration  block  now  is.  The  third  se-sion  bcsan  at 
occurred  at  the  (■')rner  of  West  and  Wash-  Carr's  November  3,  1823,  and  adjounied  to 
ington  streets.  The  Rev.  John  McClung  Harvey  Gregg's,  lot  11,  stpiare  4*).  The 
j)rcached  from  Proverbs  xiv,  ;i4.  Judge  fourth  beg-an  at  Carr's  April  12,  1624,  ad- 
Wick  read  the  declaration,  prefacing  it  with  journed  to  John  Johnson's,  lot  8,  sjHiare  44; 
remarks  on  revolutionary  events  and  men.  the  tifih  began  at  Carr's  (Jet.  11,  1?24,  and 
Obed  Fiwte  read  Washington's  inaugural  adjourned  to  the  court  house,  then  nearly 
address,  with  remarks  on  sectional  i-sues  finished.  The  first  se-sions  were  auendcd 
and  parties.  John  Hawkins  read  Washing-  i)v  several  prominent  lawyers  from  abroad, 
ton's  farewell  address,  with  appropriate  re-  who  talked  of  locating  here;  but  the  sick- 
marks.  Rev.  Robert  Brenton  closed  with  ness,  isolation  of  the  place  and  didlnes-s, 
prayer  and  benediction.  A  bar'nccue  tlien  deterred  them.  The  early  local  bar  corn- 
succeeded.  A  deer  killed  on  the  north  part  prised  a  numher  of  talented  men,  ir.cluding 
of  the  donation  the  preceding  evening  by,  William  W.  Wick,  James  Morri-on.  Hiram 
Robert  Harding,  was  roaated  in  a  pit  under  Brown,  Calvin  Fletcher,  Plulip  .^w^^-etser, 
a  large  elm  tree  close  by.  An  ample  sujjper  William  Quarles,  Harvey  Greirg  and  oth- 
■wa.s  served  on  long  table-S  under  tiie  trees,  ers,  and  held  a  hitih  rank  in  the  State. 
Speeches  were  made  by  Dr.  S.  G.  .Mitch. dl  Many  amusing  anecdotes  are  related  show- 
and  Major  John  W.  Re<.liiing,  toa.-ts  were  ing  the  peculiarities  of  the  bench  and  i)ar 
offered  and  the  festivities  chj^ed  with  a  ball  at  that  period. 

at  Jacob  R.  Crumbaugh's  house  near  the'  A  meeting  held  at  Crumbaueh's  Septera- 
£:ana!.  :ber  2G,  petitioned  the  assembly  for  repre- 

Wiliiani  Hendricks  received  315  out  of  sentation  therein,  for  the  improvement  of 
317  votes  ca-st  here  at  the  August  election  White  river,  and  ir>r  opening  roads  A 
for  Governor.  Harvev  Bates  was  elected  committee  made  and  published^  a  long 
sheriff  and  Geonre  Suu'th  coroner,  the  tir<t  report  on  the  improvement  of  the  river, 
elected  incunil-Kint^.  The  dr^^t  militia  elec-  Several  roads  to  Whi'ewater  knd_  the  N)Uth 
tion  was  held  Seotember  7.  James  Pa.xton  were  located  and  partly  opened  n\  Soptein- 
was  chosen  colonel  of  the  fortieth  regiment,  ber  and  October,  by  comnuAsioners  wno 
Samuel  Morrow  lieutenant  colonel,  and  Al-  directed  the  work  and  expenditures ;  but 
exander  W.  Ru~^ell  maior.  iyears  elapsed  before  the   roads  were  reallv 

The  firai  session  of  the  circuit  court  b«-' passable,    and    not    until   a    recent    period. 


INDIA^\^^OLIS  FROM  1S18. 


11 


Tivhen  gravelled  or  planked,  have  th«y  been,lS35,  wlicn  Ma^iiire  soM  hi^  interest  to  S. 
firm  in  wet  or  thawlni:  weather.  'V.  B.  Noel.     D.'U!,da?a  iS:  Noel  iMr.  Xoel 

A  westward  iniLrraiion  of  gray  squirrells  editor,'!  continued  till  February.  1S42,  when 
was  notieed  in  tlie  Fall,  these  animals  cros-  Douglass  became  sole  rroprietor,  .-xnd  T.  J. 
sinjc  the  river  at  several  places  in  almost  Barnett  editor.  Mr.  N'oel  bought  the  es- 
countles.^  numben?.  Tho.se  movements  have  tahlishment  in  March.,  184;^,  Barueit  rema.in- 
occurred  several  tlnuii  .since,  and  in  oiie  in  in?  as  editi^r.  Kent  succeeded  hlni,  aiid  in 
1S45  they  came  into  tlie  town.  The  lirst, March,  1845,  John  D.  Detrees  be<'an;e  edi- 
canip  meeting  began  September  12,  cxst  ofitor.  He  also  became  proprietor  in  Febru- 
town,  la.-ting  tliree  day-,  under  charce  of  ary.  1S46,  and  edited  and  publi-he<l  it  till 
Eev.  James  Scott,  ilv  fi.--t  Method;?t  Min-  October  llO,  LS54,  v,-!ien  %h^  Journal  C-.  was 
ister.  but  no  facts  can  now  l)e  given  regard-  formed  (he  bein^  a  large  stoekholder).  by 
ing  It.  A  meeting  was  held  December  Ist,  which  it  v>-as  published  till  IS'^3,  John  L). 
at  Carter's  tavern,  u>  get  a  weekly  mail  toDefrees  and  B.  R.  Sulgrove  being  editors 
and  from  Vernon  during  the  session.  The, for  part  of  the  time,  and  B.  R.  Sulgrove 
first  tax  sale  occurred  December  7th,  the; and  Barton  D.  Jones  for  the  remainder, 
long  delinquent  list  and  the  amounts  dueiWm.  R.  PloUoway  &  Co.  then  purchased 
generally  ranging  from  twenty-iive  cents  toithe  establishment.  Ilolloway  becoming  cluef 
one  dollar,  :lie  higiiest  being  S"2, 87 i,  showed! manager  arni  wiitor.  Shortly  afterward 
the  existence  of  hard  times.  A  petition' James  G.  Douglass  and  Alexander  II.  Con- 
was  sent  to  the  assembly  in  Decenit)er  to^ncr  became  partners,  and  in  ISbo  .Samuel 
iiicorporaie  the.  town,  bui  Liie  jirojeci  was  M.  Dcuiilass  pureiia^eu  Ilulluway's  share, 
strongly  opposed  and  abandoned.  No  mu-;and  the  paper  iuxs  since  been  publisb.ed  by 
r.icipal  government  existed  till  1S32.  Thel  Douglass  >vc  Conner,  with  H.  C.  Newcomb 
year  closec^  with  better  prosjiects  than  the i and  W.  R.  IloUoway  as  editors.  Dnrii<#its 
last.  The  adjacent  country  was  being  set-iexistence  the  Journal  has  been  puldished 
tied,  the  sickness  h.ad  not  been  so  general  as, from  .stveral  ditTerent  othces  on  "\Va.-hington 
in  1S21.  People  were  becoming  acclimated: street,  being  located  for  bjng  periods  oppo- 
aiid  were  better  tixed,  and  Christmas  was' site  Vt'ashini;ton  Hall,  and  also  over  the 
gveeted  wdth  the  u-ual  festivities.  i present    Gem   billiard    room,    and    In   the 

1S2;{.  The  jicople  had  clamored  for  a' three-story  brick  just  opposite.  From  lSo3 
year  for  representation  in  the  Assembly,, to  ISbO  it  was  located  in  Sharif's  building 
and  that  boiiy  yielded  it  .January  7th.  Can- on  Pennsylvania  street,  opposite  the  old 
didates  were  numerous  and  busy  till  the  Branch  Bank.  It  was  then  removed  to  the 
August  election,  and  their  merits  were  duly!  Journal  building,  erected  for  it  by  the  com- 
aet  forth  in  the  paj^ers  ;  for,  in  additi.in  to  pany  on  the  comer  of  (  ircle  and  Meridian 
the  Qazctt<:,  a  second  journal.  The  ireo/eni. ■streets,  and  Issued  there  till  January,  l'^b7, 
Ckn^or  and  Euugrant.i'  Guide,  was  now  pub-  when  it  was  transferred  to  the  present  five- 
lished.  The  first  number  appeared  March  story  building  on  Market  and  Circle  streets, 
7th,  1S23,  from  an  otilce  oppn^ite  Hender-  erected  in  IS'JG  by  the  company.  The 
eon's  tavern.  edite<l  and  printed  by  Harvey  weekly  edition  of  the  paper  has  borne  the 
Gresg  and  Douglass  Maguire.  The  second  same  name  ever  since  January  11,  1S2-J. 
number  appeared  March  I'J,  third,  March, Semi-weekly  editions  were  published  lor 
2o,  fourth,  April  2,  lifth,  April  19,  sixth,  niany  years  during  the  sessions,  the^firsr  ap- 
April  23,  after  which  it  appeared  regularl^.  pcaring  December  10,  1S2S ;  the  first_  Tri- 
Jluch  ditiiculty  was  experienced  in  getting  Weekly  December  12,  ]S3S._  Daily  editions 
the  press  and  material  over  the  bad  roads  were  at  first  only  Lssued  durlns  the  sessions, 
from  Cincinnati,  and  for  ten  years  afterward | the  lirst  appearing  December  12,  1842,  and 
all  the  papers  frequently  paWl  a  publica-' ending  February'  15,  1843.  Tiie  present 
tion  day  on  account  of  fa'ilure  in  the  arrivai'daily  began  October  7,  ISoO,  and  with  suc- 
of  thtdi-  paper.  The  Cen.^or  started  with icessive  changes  in  size,  sliape  and  in  name, 
the  motto,  "He  is  a  freeman  whom  the,  October  20,  lSo4,  to  I«(/(a,'ia;;.j/!'i  Li<u7y  J'Our- 
truth  makes  free."  Mr.  Gregg  was  chief  ;w/,  has  regularly  appearedto  the  present 
editor,"  but  retired  from  the  paper  October  time.  Since  January,  1S')6,  it  has  appeared 
29,  1S24,  and  was  succeeded  November  IG  as  an  eight-paire  .-heet.  The  Jjumai^  earn- 
by  John  Douglass,  Mr.  Maguire  a-ting  as  e^-tly  su^^ported  the  AVhig  party  during  its 
editor.  Januarv  11,  1^25,  the  paper  was  existence,  and  aided  the  organization  ot  the 
enlarged  to  super-royal  size  and  culled  the  Republican  party,  to  which  it  has  since  de- 
Iidiana  JnurnaL  It  was  enlarged  to  imjie-  voted  its  energies.  It  has  always  been  the 
rial  .-ize  October  2'J,  1831.  Mr.  Maguire  State  organ  of  its  party,  is  the  loading  jour- 
left  the  paper  November  7,  182G,  S.  Merrill  nal  of  the  State,  and  holds  high  rank  among 
taking  Ids  place  as  editor;  but  in  the  fall  of  western  newspapers. 

1S2D  Dougla.ss  and  .Maguire  resumed  their;     There  was  no  church_  edifice  except  the 
pariner-hip  and  continued  till  October  17.! Methodist,  no  regular  minister  till  1S23.    A 


Metliodirt  camp-raeetino;  was  held  cost  of  Then  ensued  two  vears  without  a  paf^tor. 
town  in  September,  IS'2-,  and  union  nieet-,»^nd  in  lSt30  J.  H.  Nixon  was  calied  and 
ings  were  occa-ionally  held  a^-  the  circle  '^fill  remains  witli  the  society.  After  th-e 
grove  and  in  private  hoasos.  Tiie  Presby-  tlivi.-ion  in  the  churcli  on  the  shivervques- 
ttrians  lui-t  February  iod  and  March  Gth  at  '^on  a  ]>ortion  of  the  nieinber.s  left,  forming 
the  schoolhouse,  to  organize  and  build  a.t''^  Second  church  in  the  summer  of  18CS, 
church.  Sub-;crij)ti(in  and  building  com-,-^''''i  i"  September.  1:^'A,  a  furtlier  division 
mittee?  were  appointed,  and  March  2'2  tnis->'ormed  the  Third  clnirch.  These  in  turn 
tees  appointed.  The  church  was  formallv  i\^'^'e  colonized  until  at  present  seven  or 
constituted  in  July.  A  lot  was  bought  on  '?i?''t  pro-jterous  bodies  look  to  the  First 
Pennsylvania  street,  and  the  buildin?  raised :9-iurch  as  a  common  nnHher.  It  would  be 
in  the  sunamer  and  finished  in  ISli-l,  at  a  '"foresting  to  mention  their  history  in  de- 
cost  for  house  and  lot  of  $1200.  It  was'^,^il-.bu|:  the  limits  allowed  in  this  sketch 
used  till  lS42or3.  then  used  as  a  carriage  forbid  it.  Beside  these,  other  branches  of 
shop,   and   finally  torn  do.Tn  in   lSo9.     A.^^^^  S^^^^   Presbyterian   family  exi.-t   here, 

jand  movements   have  lately  been  made  to 
unite  them  as  one  ciimmon  body. 

The  first  Sabbath  School  was  organized 
April  G,  1823,  in  Caleb  Scudder's  cai'inet 
shop,  on  the  south  side  of  the  State  House 
square.  It  was  a  union  school,  very  suc- 
cessfid  for  the  time,  seventv  scholars  bcinEr 
in  attendance  tiie  third  Sunday,  but  was  dis- 
continued in  the  fall.  It  was  revived  on  its 
aimiversary,  and  continued  steadily  from 
that  tinie,  the  First  Presbyterian  being  its 
'present  repre-entative.  After  the  Presby- 
jterian  church  was  finished  the  school  met 
I  there.  The  a%-erage  attendance  at  the  uiuun 
school  was  lorty  the  first  year,  fifty  the  sec- 
[ond,  seventy-five  the  third,  one  hundred 
,^,     ,.       „      ...      ,-,,       ,  .  (and  six  the  fourth,  one  hundred  and  fiftv 

!the  hith.  loO  volumes  were  m  the  library 
new  brick  ctinrch  was  buiit  in  1S41-2,  onlbought  in  1327.  Successive  colonies  formed 
Market  and  Circle  streets,  at  a  cost  of  schools  for  other  churches,  the  first  forming 
SS,000,  and  used  till  18(36,  when  sold  to  the  Methodist  school  April  24,  1S29,  and 
the  Journal  Co.  and  jorn  away.  The  pres- the  third  the  Baptist  in  1832.  Want  of 
ent  edifice  on  Xew  York  and  Pennsylvania  space  forbids  fuller  mention  of  this  import- 
streets  was  built  in  1SG5-0-7,  at  a  cost  of  ant  enterprise,  but  it  ruay  be  stated  here 
875,000,  and  occupied  in  December,  1867.  that  Dr.  Isaac  Coe  was  'the  founder  and 
Kev.  O.  P.  Gaines  was  the  fir.--t  Presbyterian  most  active  supporter  of  the  movement, 
minister,  acting  as  a  missionary  in  1821-2,  Nearly  every  church  now  has  a  school,  and 
but  David  C.  Proctor,  a  mi.-sionar\-  here  in  a  number  of  mission  schools  originated  by 
1822,  was  first  pastor  of  the  church  from  associations  or  individuals  also  exist. — 
1823  to  August,  1S2-4.  Geor,'e  Bash — jThousands  of  scholars  and  teachers  are  en- 
widely  known  afterward  as  a  tlieologian — 'rolled,  and  thousands  of  books  and  papers 
was  pastor  from  September,  1824.  to  June,  are  circulated  each  week  from  the  liliraries. 
1828^  and  left  here  .March  20,  182C.  Dif- A  Sabbath  School  Union  was  started  shortly 
ferences  had  ari.-.en  betwen  him  and  the  after  the  first  school,  with  visiting  commit- 
church  on  church  government,  and  after  tees  to  solicit  the  attendance  of  scholars  and 
severing  his  relation  with  tiiem  he  preached  keep  up  the  interest  of  parents  in  the  enter- 
for  some  time  in  the  Court   House.     The  prise. 

average  attendance  during  his  mini:^try  wasi  Israel  Mitchell,  Stephen  Howard,  and 
seventy-five  to  one  hundred  persons.  John  Martin  Smith,  three  resident  young  men, 
Moreley  was  called  }<\ny  or  June.  1829,  re-  lett  March  21st  for  Patssian  America  cin  the 
maining  until  1S32.  W'ni.  A.  HoUiday  was  Pembina  seitlePient.  They  reached  Fort 
called  in  the  fall  of  1832.  James  W.  M>  Armstrontr  on  the  Mississippi  May  4th,  and 
Kennon  was  called  February,  1830.  remaia- Fever  river  August  loth,  iiaving  seen  no 
ing  till  1840.  Phineas  D.  Gurley  was  white  men  fur  twenty-three  days  after  leav- 
callcd  November,  1840,  and  remained  tilling  the  Vermillion  salt  work.s,  and  being 
the  fall  of  1849.  The  church  was  witliout  robbed  by  the  Indians  and  nearly  starved 
a  pastor  till  October,  ISol,  when  John  A.  for  food.  "Their  ultimate  late  was  unknov.n. 
McClung  was  called.  T.  L.Cunningham  The  Indiana  Central  Medical  Societv  was 
was  called  October,  1S55,  leaving  in  ISoS.lformed  in  tlie  spring,  with  Dr,  S.  G.  ilitch- 


i 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1S18. 


U 


ell.  Prc=iilent,  and  Living-ton  Dunlop,  Sec-|Site.  The  clearinc:  of  lots  alon^  "Wp.-li-i"- 
retary.  It  licen.-cd  physicians  to  practice! ton  and  the  cros*  streets  j)rosrc»cd  diirini: 
tinder  the  law  at  that  time,  and  continiie<J'this  year,  and  sciittered  larms  on  the  jilot 
in  existence  for  y^^ar?,  beinz  tlie  t'^rerunner  and  donation  Avere  npencd,  connectc.r  !>v 
of  the  present  niewical  society  of  the  city.       [foot-paths  windinsj  tlirongh  the  dense  thick- 

The  tirsL  woolen  machinery  in  the  county  lets,   in  ^s-hich   it  was  easy  to  miss   the  wav 
was  srarted   at  ^Vilson's  mill  Jane  20,  byjand  get  lost. 
Wm.  Town-end  and  Earl  Pierce.  The    Gazette  in   December  surprised  th.e 

The  celebration  of  the  4th  of  July  oc-icitizens  by  stating  that  Mr.  and  Mr-,  ."^inith, 
currcd  at  "Wilkes  Keagan's  cal>in  on  Pogae'sdate  of  the  New  X'-rk  theatre,  would  api>ear 
run  and  3I:irket  street.  D.  (1  Proctor  was, at  Carter's  tavern,  Wednesd.ay  lULrhr,  De- 
chaph'.in,  Daniel  B.  Wick  reader,  Morris|eemlier  ."■'.Ist,  in  the  "Itoctor'.s  V'oun-iiip.  or 
Morri-  orator,  and  Rev.  Da.ac  lieed  closed, the  Indidgent  Father,"  to  be  followed  bv 
•nith  benediction.  Reagan  gave  the  barbe-j  the '"Jealous  Lovers;"  tickets  '.M\  cents, 
cue  and  fed  the  crowd  and  Capt.  CuiTy's|The  town  was  excited  and  con-iderable  op- 
ritle  company,  closing  with  toasts  and! position  aroused.  Carter  insisted  that  the 
speecb.es.  Political  feeling  grew  warm  aSjOrchestra  —  one  poor  tiddle  —  should  only 
the  August  election  atiproached.  Two  hnn-play  solemn  nu.sic.  A  curtain  was  drawn 
dred  and  seventy  votes  were  oa^t  in  the;acrfjss  one  end  of  the  room  for  the  players, 
county,  James  Gregory,  of  Shelby,  beingiThe  orchestra  occupied  a  stool  at  one  side, 
elected  first  senator,  and  James  Paxton  tirst!and  the  audience  were  seated  at  the  other 
representative.  The  population  was  esti-jend  of  the  room.  Several  performances 
mated  at  six  htmdred  in  Septem'oer  by  the! were  given.  Such  was  the  origin  of  the 
Ceiisor,  and  the  healtli  was  better  than  hadidrama  here.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  returned 
been  reported.  The  paper  denounced  tliejin  June,  lS2i,  and  g-ave  several  perfurra- 
jealousy  monifested  tow;.ird  tiie  capital  bylan.:es,  the  first  on  the  "21st,  but  the  experi- 
other  to\ra.s  —  a  jealousy  which  lasted, mem  wa- not  rpi)eated  for  many  year«.  Tiie 
throuuh  .subse  juent  years,  and  until  the^editor  of  the  (.cv(.-'..c  in  announcintr  the  sliow 
growtii  and  superiority  of  tr.e  city  renderedjin  1S24,  .-aid  he  tiid  not  oppose  th.e  repre- 
such  a  feeling  ludicrous.  Instead  vif  aiding  sentation  of  tragedies  and  comoai-s  as  many 
to  build  a  city  here  of  which  the  State  could  did,  but  he  thought  that  com{);'.;iy  would 
be  proud,  every  town  long  labored  to  pre-inot  do.  In  the  next  issue  he  announced 
vent  its  growth  and  build  up  cities  ra  other' that  they  had  absconded  without  taking  any 
States.  jof  his  money. 

During  tliis  summer  Thomas  Carter  builtj  IS'it.  The  first  military  scliool  here  v.\ts 
a  frame  tavern  on  Wiishington  street  oppo-opened  January  lo,  Ijy  ^L^jor  Sullinger,  for 
site  the  court  house,  and  opened  it  October; the  instruction  of  militia  otfieers  an;'  sol- 
6th,  and  on  the  2Gth  tlis  first  sermon-  by  aidiers.  The  first  real  estate  agency  was 
Baptist  preacher  was  delivered  there.  This  opened  early  iv<  the  same  month  by  Wra.  C. 
house  was  burned  January  17,  1^2o,  GuringMcDougal. 

the  first  ses.-ion  of  the  Assembly  ;  ajrf  be-!  The  Assembly  had  hitherto  declined  to 
tween  the.  fire  and  the  efiorts  of  excitei  cit-jmove  to  the  new  Capital,  and  the  soutb.ern 
izens  to  save  property.  Carter  lost  nearliy  alljcounties  delayed  action  as  long  as  po-.-ioIe, 
he  had.  Several  persons  desirous  of  Hivingdjut  the  new  jiurchase  mentbers  having  t:'.kfn 
tlie  now  sign  on  a  tall  post  in  front  vi  the; their  seats  the  subject  was  pressed,  and  on 
hou.se  cliopped  it  down,  and  were  rac^-h  a.^-jtlie  25th  of  January  an  act  pa.ssed  making 
tcHiLshed  whea  the  fall  crushed  il  into  .rplin-j  Indianapolis  the  permanent  seat  of  govcrn- 
ters.  .Jame<  Blake  and  Sunuel  Henu-trson'ment.  directing  the  State  ouiecs  and  arch- 
had  al-o  built  a  tavern  during  tiie  suaimeri  ive-.  to  be  moved  here  by  January  Id,  1j2o, 
and  fill,  the  Wa-hington  HaH,  a  tw.>sroryrr.Tid  the  Assembly  to  meet  in  our  coiu-t 
frame,  where  Glenn's  block  now  L-,  and  liou.se  on  that  day.  Samuel  r^b^rrill,  St.itc 
opencl  it  with  a  ball  January  12,  L?24., Treasurer,  was  chargtMl  vvdth  the  removal, 
Hendersctn  had  kept  there  befv-e  in  a  log  and  effected  it  in  the  following  Novcmher, 
hou.-e.  Buike  &  Henderson  dis.-olved  indx-ing  ten  days  in  making  one  hr.nurii  snd 
March,  lS2o,  and  for  a  few  months  after: twentv-five  miles  over  the  rough  roads  tiien 
November,  18.32,  Town  &  Pullian  succeeied  existing.  After  the  A.<.-crubly  adj.Mirr.cd, 
Henderson,  but  Ite  resumed  in  March,  I'oo,  Messrs.  Gregory  and  Paxton  return^  1  irnm 
and  kept  it  till  June,  1S;.;G,  when  the  b:.utse,Corydon,  and  received  a  ^  ooinpiim'-M'.arv 
Avas  removed  to  tlie  lot  east  of  its  fciTuer  supper  February  21st,  at  \ya.-hin;;!on  ilall, 
site,  and  the  new  Washington  Hall  buut  in  in  ai.proval  of  their  services,  liie  tox^ts 
its  stead.  A  part  of  the  old  frame  biuse/and  speeches  evinced  great  }o\-  at  the  re- 
was  standing,  occupied  .as  a  clotiiing  score,  moval  of  the  government  to  thi.s  p"mt. 
till  Februarv,  lS(i6,  when  it  was  torn -clown  Many  Indians  still  lingered  in  this  cotm- 
and  Gramlin-'s  block  afterward  built  ^n  its  trv,    aiid    .an   event    occurred    March   2'2d 


14 


LOGAN'S  HISTORY  OF 


wliich  caused  much  fe:ir  of  a  border  vrar.  were  boinsr  erected,  the  trees  on  t!ie  street.-' 
T\s'o  men,  three  wunien,  two  girls  and  two  lelied  and  the  phit  gridually  cleared.  A 
boys  of  tiie  .Sha^vnee  tribe  vrere  murdered  at -eries  of  great  storms  in  April  and  Mav 
their  camp,  eiglit  miles  above  Pendleton,  delngod  the  counrrv  with  warer.  bavou.^, 
by  four  -white  men  and  two  boy?.  The  ponds  and  creeks  everywliere  ovcriiowe':'. 
whites  were  Ph-idges  and  ids  son,  Sawyer  and  White  river  attained  a  h. ".-':;:  never 
and  Ids  son,  Hudson  and  Piarper.  The  In-  equaled,  unl(\-^s  bv  the  tloods  of  1S2.S  and 
dians  had  hunted  and  traj.ped  on  Fall  1847.  The  boats  took  advanta-e  of  the 
Creek  during  the  winter,  obtaining  so  many  high  water,  and  the  keel-boat  "  Dandv," 
furs  that  Harper  determined  to  seeure  them.  twentv-eiErlit  tons,  arrived  Mav  22d  w'li'h 
IIq  got  his  party  drunk,  told  them  the  the  new  purchase  staple.%  .salt  and  wbL-kv. 
Shawnees  were  hnrso-thieves,  and  proposeil  The  Metjiodist  <;uarterlv  meetin','  be-iln 
to  kill  them.-  They  went  to  tlie  camp.  May  loth  in  the  Presbvterian  church,  then 
asked  the  three  men,  Lo^an,  Stephen  Lud-ne-aVly  finished.  James  Scott  was  the  tirst 
low  and  another  to  help  iiunt  cattle,  and  rjinis'ter  here,  sent  bv  the  St.  Louis  confer- 
ai'ter  going  a  short  di-;ance  tired  on  thera/.r-nce,  and  arriving "  October,  1.^21.  after 
killing  the  first  two,  but  the  third  escaped.-much  difficulty  in  tinding  the  tov.-n.  Ser- 
Keuu-ning  to  camp  the  women  and  children 'vices  had  been'  hell  at  private  ii<-uses,  and 
were  killed,  the  children's  brains  knocke'i  camp  meetings  held,  tiie  first  SeL.:ember 
out  against  trees,  and  the  bodies  mutilated  12lh,  18"J2,  on  .Tame-  Oivc-ns'  farnrea^t  of 
as  if  Indians  had  killed  them,  and  the  bod-  :o-^vn,  and  the  .-ecund  began  there  May  'I'-'d 
ies  throu-n  in  a  pond  where  they  were  found  of  thi*  vear,  listing  one  '.veek.  These  meet- 
next  dav,  one  of  the  women  still  bronthing-.  ;2^rv^  ^^•ev^_.  held  in  or  near  tl-iO  t.jv.Ti  iOc  ttii 
The  wretches  divided  the  property  i)etKeen  ^--r^'fifteen  years,  not  only  by  the  M-.rhodists, 
them,  and  its  possession  betrayed  them.; hut  other  denominat-.^^iii  ;  but  as  church  ac- 
Tli^v  were  arrested,  confe-=ed  the  crime,  eominodations  iuereised  tiiey  v.ere  aban- 
but  being  assisted  by  friends  soon  after  es-jdoned.  au'l  none  have  been  held  in  the  im- 
caped.  All  were  retaken  but  Harper,  the  jnediate  vicinity  for  nearly  twenty  yeais. 
leader,  who  traveled  on  foot  to  Ohio,  eighty  The  Methodlst.s"  ha'l  no  chiirch  ed'irice  till 
miles  through  the  woods,  in  twenty-fotirl^he  summer  of  182").  w.hen  thev  nought  a 
hours,  and  escaped.  They  again  escaped  in, ;:ot  and  heT^ed  log  house  for  S^JOO,  on  the 
Jiily,  but  were  recaptured.  Hucbon  wasj-^Hith  "ide  of  Maryland  street  east  or  Merid- 
tried  at  Anderson  in  Xovembcr  before !ian,  which  was  used  till  1829,  when  a  brick 
Judge  Wick,  was  convicted,  nnd  huncr  inrhurch,  built  in  182-^-9,  at  a  cost  i  with  lot) 
the  winter.  The  rest  were  tried  in  May,!,.-.f  §oO'X',  was  opened  on  Circle  and  Merid- 
1825.      Yovmg   Sawyer   was    convicted    of  I 

mandaughter,    the    rest   of  murder.       Oldl  ^s?;:-^'-^"  -i^--^ 

Bridges  and  old  Sawyer  were  hung  Jnnel  -'^J^  ''^     :~^^s: 

3d.  Yfiung  Bridges  wa-  brought  under  the! 
rope  where  his  father  had  Just  died,  his! 
coffin  l>y  iiLs  side,  when  Governor  Ivayj 
mounted  the  platform  and  announced  hi^j' 
pardon  in  a  speech  to  the  people.  These! 
executions  quieted  the  liidians  and  no! 
retaliatory  measures  were  taken  ;  but  at  first] 
the  .settlers  in  the  vicinity  were  much) 
alarmed  and  fled  to  the  Pendleton  mills  for'f 
protectiun,  and  there  was  a  general  unaasi-  • 
ness  here. 

A  census  tiiken  by  Sunday  fchool  visitor^!' 
in  April  -tiowed  one  hundred  families  on  l-a-n  .«treets.  This  was  used  till  lS4f-;,  when 
the  donation,  comprising  one  hundred  and 'the  walls  becoming  cracked  and  un=afe,  it 
seventy-two  voters,  forty-five  single  women  -xas  torn  down  and  Wesley  Chaj-.el^  biilt  on 
between  fifteen  and  forty-five;  number  of  its  site  at  a  cost  of  810,000.  _This  chapel 
children  not  stated.  There  had  been  but  has  been  used  till  the  present  time,  but  pre- 
little  increa.se  since  November,  1S21,  but;:aratioas  are  now  on  foot  for  its  .=a!e,  and 
many  p'crsons  then  here  had  moved  to  the  ti:^e  erection  elsewhere  of  a  new  and  m.>re 
country.  For  a  number  of  years  the  town  eiqien-ive  edifice.  In  1842  the  church  was 
increased  very  slowdv.     T'le'want  of  road-, 'divided  into  the  eastern  and  western  cluirg- 

■     -  ^  ■  -  -        ■        •     ■    '"  '  '"        '      \s  bu!.'. 


j^   £3,  1^  1;  •'  .'.  -  ';\ 


(F:r^t.  .Metho.U.-.t  Churoli.} 


and  of  a  market  for  surplus  products  cut  ofi"e~,  but   in  184;;-4  Eoberts  Chapel  was  but.'- 
travel   or  trade,  and    prevented   any  rapid  at  a  cost  of  S10,0()0,  on  [Market  and   I'''.'_"!' 
progress.       Improvements,    however,   wcresyivania  streets,  by  the  eastern  cb.arge.   T 
made..      The    court    house,    school    ho>.ise,  cimrch  also  will  soon   be  sold  tivA  ji   1 
Presbytyterian   church,    and    State    ol;icts  and  more  expensive  edifice  erected   i^r 


1^'DIANAP0LIS  FEOM  ISIS.  15 


o^in^'reg-ation.  By  tho  <livi<ion  of  conur-  niiletco  ovt-r  the  terrible  rnad-;.  Tliev  ar- 
CMC03  anil  charges,  i^trarge,  Ashury  and' rived  on  horseback,  siii?!v  or  in  srroup^, 
Trinity,  with  >everal  Mi:^sion,  German  and  muddy  and '.vpary.  at  the  ditferent  tavenu! 
African  Metho<li?t  chjjrches  have  since  been  lor  ?e'veml  days"  before  the  se.<sion.  The 
biiiit,  and  the  denomination  is  perhaps  the;indux  of  >rran>rer?,  vrilh  new  i.pics-  of 
st(onge~t  in  the  city  unle.-.-  the  Catholics  thought  and  conversation,  excited  the  quiet 
outnumber  it.  Further  i7iention  of  the!  villagers  ;  and  after  the  session  oi)ened 
church  or  of  the  many  talented  ministers: crowds  of  gi^ping  natives  witncs.^d  the  pro- 
who  have  been  stationed  here  is  prevented  ceedin<js  with  unsated  curiosity.  For  veara 
by  limited  sj.'ac-?.  !afterward  the  anntial  session  was  anxiouslv 

The  4th  of  July  beinsr^Sunday,  the  cele-jawaited.  The  money  then  di^^bursed  was 
bration  took  place  at  Wiikes  Reagan's  on  an  important  item ;  trade  then  revived,  and 
the  od.  Gabriel  .J.  .Johnson  addressed  the;businjss  of  all  kind;  improved.  Property 
citizens  and  Major  J.  "W.  Keding  the  inili-i  which  had  formerly  declineil  was  held  more 
tia.  Obed  Foote  wis  reader,  and  Reagan  tirmly,  th.^ugii  no  marked  advance  took 
furnished  the  barbecue,  the  affair  ending:  place  in  it  till  1835,  when  it  suddenly 
with  the  usual  toasts  and  speeches.  The  reached  extravairant  fienrcs,  onlv  to  fail 
August  election  was_  hotly  contested,  the  back  and  leave  the  people  poorer' than  be- 
contest  bein::  on  sheriff,  M(.)rris  Morris  and  fore. 

A.  W.  Riis-oU  being  candidates.  Four!  On  the  2od  of  January,  1S24,  the  Assem- 
hundred  and  thirty  votes  were  cast,  one  bly  ordered  the  agent  to  lay  off  twenty  out- 
hundred  and  sixty  more  than  in  IS'23,  Rus-jlots  of  four  acres  each  on  the  north  and 
roll  having  t"*.^  hundred  -irir!  wiyty-tiv-p  nmlisontb  sides  of  the  old  niat.  and  sell  them  by 
M(.)rris  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  votes.; auction  January  24th' lS2o.  The  lots  had 
Xt  the  November  election  Clay  received! been  laid  ott"  durine  the  following  summer, 
two  hundred  and  tiiirteen,  .Jajkson  ninety-' and  were  soI>l  as  directed,  the  hirrhr-st  brin?- 
nine,  Adams  sixteen.  Clay  always  received:. S155,  the  lowest  ?63,  the  avemcre  being 
a  heavy  vote  here  afterward,  and  his  sup-iabout  6100  lor  each  four-acre  lilock.  After 
ftorters  had  lield  the  tirst  raceting  and  or-:this  sale,  the  Assembly  on  the  12;h  of  Feb- 
panized  July  17th,  .Tames  Paxton,  Presi-jruarv'  ordered  the  acrent  to  lay  oii"  and  sell, 
dent,  and  Hin.m  Erovn,  Secretary.  (on  the  2d  of  May.  twenty  additional  lots  on 

A  large  number  of  emigrants  passed j the  north  and  soutii  of  tho;e  already  sold  ; 
through  the  town  during  the  fall  on  theinalso  the  reserved  lots  on  Washincton  street 
way  to  the  ^Vabash  country.  '  land  elsewhere;    to  have  Pogue's  run  valley 

The  Indianj.polis  I^egislature  was  organ-jcIeareJ  if  the  expense  did  not  exceed  SbO  ; 
ized  during  the  fall  by  the  lawyers  and |  and  to  lease  the  ferry  for  five  year'^.  Mr. 
leading  citizens,  and  sessions  were  held  dur-|Blythe  complied  with  these  dirc-^'^irms,  ex- 
ing  the  winter  for  ten  or  tiftcen  successive 'cept  clearing  the  valley,  part  of  vrliich  was 
years.  Its  rules,  and  tlie  pending  measure:-! heavily  timb';red  till  1S45.  Two  of  tlie  old 
and  subjects  for  debate,  were  similar  tfj'trees  are  still  standing  south  of  the  Central 
those  in  the  body  it  copied.  Talented  men!';cpot;  others  south  of  the  old  Bel'.efonraine 
were  a,s,signed  as  members  from  the  several i depot  were  cut  down  in  April  of  this 
counties,  and  the  mock  representatire  often! year..  Pie  held  the  sale  of  reserved  and 
had  far  more  ability  than  the  real  one.  The|other  lots  on  the  2d  of  May;  S06O  was  the 
Governor's  messac'cs  were  often  v,-itty  and|  highest  price  obtained  for  reserved  lots  on 
able  documents,  and  sometimes  published.! Washington  street,  and  Slo4  the  lowest. 
The  Governor  wa.s  elected  whenever  the;Sevenleen  h'ts  on  Washindon  street,  e<]uiv- 
merabers  wanted  a  new  message  or  inaugn-ialent  to  a  frontaee  of  nearly  tliree  suuares, 
ral.  After  the  General  Assembly  met  here,'Sold  for  So.32S.  The  twenty  additional  out- 
its  leading  members  joined  the  IndianapolLs|  lots  sold  for  .?1,4G7,  averaging  a  little  over 
organization,  and  the  debates  and   proceed-jSlS  per  acre. 

ings  in  the  la-„  frequently  guided  and  con-  This  year  was  distinsru'shed  for  the  form- 
trolled  legislation  in  the  lirst-namal  body,    'ation  of  various  societies.  •  Th»a   Indianaro- 

1S25.  The  State  olncers  having  arrivedills  Bible  Society  was  formed  on  the  Ibth  of 
with  the  arc'iives  in  ZS'-jveraber,  l-?24,  the  April,  and  has  continued  in  active  oi:)enition 
State  government  was  formally  and  perma- ever  since.  Mrs.  Georce  Bush  w;is  aniong 
nentiy  located  here  January  10th,  lS2-5.'Lhe  most  earnest  supporters  of  the  s<Klety, 
The  A-5en:biy  met  in  the  coiirt  hou..5e  (still! and  for  many  years  past  Mrs.  Margaret 
unfinished)— the  Senate  in  the  upper,  thelGlvan  has  be-en  th-?  Prt-ident  of  the  .-ociety. 
House  in  the  lower  room — and  the  session-;The  Marion  County  Bible  .Society,  an  aux- 
contlnueil  there  till  December,  ISoo.  wheniliary  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  was 
the  State  house  was  finished,  and  the  Lciris-'organized  Xoveraber  13th,  1S25.  B.  F.  ^for- 
lature  met  there  for  the  first  time.  TheirLs,  President.  J.  M.  Ray,  Secretary.  The 
members  at    that    time  fully  earne<l   their;  Indianajxjiis  Tract  Society  wa.s  formed  in 


i  16  LOGAN'S  HISTORY  OF 


the  s[>rin^'  of  this  year  and  continued  its  c-nzii  prevailed  here  as  an  epidemic,  attack- 
opiTatious  for  many  years.  In  July  and  ing  nearly  every  pers^m  in  tiie  town.  Gr>  at 
August  meetin,!.'^  were  held  at  the  court  rains  fell 'for  two  weeks  in  March  and  April, 
house  to  organize  an  agriculmral  society,  four  indies  of  water  tailing  in  one  niLrht. 
and  it  was  completed  Sopte-uber  ;;d,  Calvin  The  streams  ruse  very  liigii,  and  all  m'ails 
Fletcher,    Henry   Bradley,    Henry  Eurton,  wei'e  sto{)ped. 

and  others  being  leaders  in  it,  but  no  perm-!  A  cannon  having  been  sc-nt  here  an  artil- 
anent  enect  resulted  from  tiie  etibrt,  and  it'lery  com[iany  wils  formed  under  Capiain 
is  notable  only  a^  the  tirst  attempt  in  that  James  Elake,  and  thereafter  at  4th  of  Julv 
direction.  ^  iand  other  ceiebratitms,  the  artillery  stjuad 

In  September  tlie  land  oiUcc  was  removed  became  an  important  though  dan^-erous  ad- 
froni  Brookville  to  this  point,  and  in  Sep-'junct,  for  .-everal  nicn  "were  aftcrv.-ard 
tember  and  October  an  unusual  number  of  maimed  for  life  by  tiiat  gun,  On  the  20tli 
emigranis  passed  throuirh  the  town  on  tiieir-of  Jui-e  the  Indianapolis  Fire  Company  was 
way  to  the  Wabash  and  the  Illinois  prairies,  formevl.   John   Hawkins,   President,  J.   M. 

18  26.  On  the  13th  of  January  the  A*- Kay,  Secretary.  The  company  n.-ed  buck- 
sembly  directed  the  agent  to  contract  withlets  and  laddei-s,  and  turned  out  at  tlie  call 
Ashael  Duaning  to  build  a  two-story  brick'of  the  church  beU.  It  maintained  its  or- 
ferry  house  18  x  oO  feet,  on  the  river  bank.! ganization  (being  incorporaiod  January, 
It  was  buiit  the  foUov.-ing  summer,  and  183U,!  till  February,  1S;J5,  when  it  was 
though  partially  burned  N.^vember  27th,  nicrL'-ed  in  the  ?kIarion  tire  engine  company. 
ISoo,  was  repaired,  and  is  standing  in  good!  The  usual  militan,-  and  civic  2>arade  oc- 
repair  near  liie  mill-raee  ou  Vvasiiingtoncurred  on  uie  -tiii  of  July,  with  exercises  at 
street.  Sickness,  and  lack  of  trade  and  mo-itiie  court  house.  Kev.  George  Eus'i  wa.s 
ney,  had  prevented  many  lot  buyers  lrom| chaplain,  L.  Dunlap,  reader,  C.  Fletcher, 
meeting  deferred  payments  on  their  lots,! orator,  and  Joiin  Hays  furnished  the  din- 
and  they  were  liable  to  forfeiture  at  any|ner.  On  the  12th  of  August  public  funenil 
time.  The  Assembly.  January  2Uth,  al-j services  were  held  for  Adams  and  Jetieri^on. 
lowed  further  time,  and  permitted  buyers  of' A  military  and  civic  procession  marciied  to 
several  lots  to  surrender  parr,  and  transfer' ihe  court  hous?.  where  13.  F.  Morris  and  D. 
the  cash  paymenis  on  tli'^  lots  surrendered, Maguire  delivered  eulogies  on  the  illu.-lrious 
to  meet  deferred  payments  on  others.     Thisldead. 

act  was  followed  by  similar  ones  at  subse-l  tThere  was  the  usual  great  westward  emi- 
quent  dates,  greatly  relieving  embarrassed' gration  in  ti^e  fall.  The  town  was  unusu- 
buyers.  Western  lots  were  surrendered  and  illy  healthy,  altliouuh  the  summer  was  hot 
the  settlement  went  still  further  east.  TheirLnd  dry.  Lorenzo  Dow,  the  noted  revival-  i 
centre  of  jiopulation  and.  business  has  siiiitedlist,  TL-ited  the  town  in  June  and  preached  j 
considerably  at  diiierent  periods.  At  tirst[to  the  people  in  a  grove  near  the  present 
t!ie  town  was  on  the  river.  The  sickness  in!  Madison  dipot,  and  the  next  evening  at  the 
1S21  drove  it  eastward,  and  the  lot-relief* court  house  steps.  He  attracted  large  a iidi- 
aet  carried  it  still  further  to  the  east.  Till ;ence.s,  more  by  eccentricities  of  speech  and 
ISoB  the  town  was  on  and  near  Washington idress  than  by  elocpience. 
street,  between  West  and  New  Jersey  streets.'  A  treaty  was  concluded  with  the  Indians 
It  tlh'n  tended  westward  to  the  canal,  undcrlat  Fort  Wayne  in  the  fall,  by  which  more 
the  internal  improvement  excitemerit.  Af-j territory  was  ceded,  and  the  government 
ter  the  abandonment  of  the  public  works  it'agreed  to  deliver  certain  cattle,  hogs,  wag- 
moved  eastward  to  the  square  on  which  the! ons.  ic,  the  next  spring.  In  Januari-, 
Palmer  Hoase  stands,  and  for  a  long  time;  1S27,  John  Tipton,  Indian  agent,  advertised 
was  nearly  stationary,  for  there  was  littleifor  proi,»osals  for  the  delivery  of  two  hund- 
chanore  in  "the  size  and  business  of  tiie  place!  red  hogs,  two  hmidreil  cattle,  ten  wagons, 
In  1S4S  it  moved  southward,  tending  to  ihe'and  the  building  of  eight  brick  houses  in 
Madison  dep:)t;  the  construction  of  other|the  Indian  country  under  the  treaty.  The 
lines  arrested  it  and  it  moved  north-east,  till  heavy  rains  the  following  spring  prevented 
the  war  suddenly  scattered  business  and; the  delivery  of  the  wagons  and  stock,  and 
]>opulatlon  in  every  direction.  At  present^the  savages  were  somewhat  dissatisfied 
it  is  probable  the  centre  of  population  is  not  ther:-at. 

far  from  the  eiust  market  house,  and  the  cen-i  IS 27.  The  Assembly,  on  the  2'3th  of 
tre  of  basiness  near  the  north-west  corner  of  January,  directed  the  agent  to  survey  and 
Pen-Lsvlvania  and  Washington  streets.  [sell  seven  acres  near  the  river  fur  a  steam 

A  census  in  Februarv  showed  seven  hun-irniil  site,  and  on  the  2Sth  of  January,  182S, 
dred  and  sixtv  inhabitants,  two  hundre<l;incorporporated  the  Steam  Mill  C'lmjrany 
and  nine  of  them  being  children  of  school,  with  S2'J,U00  capital,  in  S50  shares.  The 
age,  and  one  hundred  and  .sLxtv-one  of  them  company — the  tirst  one  incorporate.!  here — 
in  the  Sabbath  school.     In  March  the  inliu-J organized  shortly  after,  Nicholas  MeCarty, 


r= 


INDIANAPOLIS  FKOM  ISIS. 


James  Blake  and  J.  M.  Rav  being  the  lead"! the    summer,    and    stood    there   till    ISOo. 

ers   in    it.     Subscription.-;    were   .«lowly   ob-j 

tained  dnrincr  lS2'~^-oO.  materials  were  col-|  -— r  ^  '""-r-''Cj^_ 

lected  in  ISoD-l,  the  huildiiii^  raised  in  Sep- 
tember   and    finished    in    r>i.eL-mber,    1831. 


The  saw  mill  had  Ijeen  tini-^hcd  before.  The 
grist  mill  bc2:an  work  in  January,  1832, 
and  Avas   the  tirst  in   this  suction  that   had 


ci  L  E  1 1'jf  _ 


,':■'  i-i   ■«   "^i 


^'r-z:^. 


m^y- 


-m3fi. 


(Clerk's  Ot?ce.) 

Four  thousand  dollars  Avere  also  appropri- 
ated for  a  two-story  brick  house  on  the 
Circle  for  tlie  Governor,  and  the  Circle  was 
to  be  enclosed  by  a  rail  feiice  by  the  tirst  ul" 
May.  The  house  contract  was  signe<l  March 
ITtli,  and  it  was  built  at  a  cost  oi'  six  thous- 
and five  hundred  dollars  durincr  the  sum- 
mer by  Smith,  Culbertson,  Lisli'ip  and 
Speaks.  It  was  a  solidly-bnilt,  square,  iv.'o- 
story,  hipped-roofed  brick  house,  v.-ith  lo(jk- 
oiit^  larcrt'  windows,  doors  and  chimneys, 
two  cross  halls,  and  four  larse  rooms  on 
each  floor,  and  dark,  damp  basenient  under 
the  whole  structure.     These  vaults  were  a 


bolting   cloths   or   made   fine   flour.       The 
wool-cardino:  apjiaralus  was  put  in  motion 
in  Jime,  1S32.     The  mill  ran  irrcijularly, 
for  there  was  ditliculty  in  getting  good  wood 
at   sev>Hity-five   cents    per   cord  ;     the   de- 
mand for  tiour  w;is  not  equal  to  the  supply, 
and    i~hi})ments  were   out  of  the   question. 
The    mill   stood    north-ea^t   of  the  present 
bridge,  and  was  the  largest   building  in  the 
place,  being  a  heavily  framed  structure  ofl 
three  full  storie.s  with  a  high  gambrel  root^ 
allowing  two  additional  stories.     The  boil- 
ers and  engines — the   first  ones  ever  used' 
here — were  to  have  been  l)ronght  up  on  a] 
steamboat,  but  were  wag<.ined  out  from  Cin-j 
cinnati  with  great  difficulty  in  1831.     Thel 
mill  was  unjirolitable,  and  was  alxindonedi 
and  the  machinery  offered  for  sale  in  1835.1 
It  remained  v;'cant  till   1S47,  when  it  was' 
refitted  and  used  till  18-52  by  GeisendorfEs  as 
a  woolen  mill.     It   again    became   vacant,' 
and  was  fired  and  totally   de:7froyed  with 
the  neighboring  toll  house,  on  the  ni^ht  of^ 
Novemtter  16,  1853,  endangering  the  White 
river    bridge,    wliich    was    only   saved    by 
great  exertions  on   the  part  of  the  firemen.: 
OnQ.  hundred  men  worked  two  days  in  rais- 
ing its  heavy  frame,  and  no  lii|uor  was  v.-^i^C\, 
a  fact  which  excited  much  comment  at  the 
time,   for   serious    doubts   had    been   enter- 
tained whether  so  large  a  building  could  be 
raised  witliout  the  aid  of  whisky. 

The  Assemiily  appropriated  five  hundred 
dollars  Januan.'  2fith,  to  build  a  SM]>rvrae 
Court  clerk's  office,  eighteen  by  thirty-six 
feet,  on  the  west  side  of  court  square.  It 
was  built  by  S.  and  J.  Patterson  during 
(•2) 


(Governor's  House.) 

wurce  of  terror  to  all  small  boys,  for  they 
fully  credited  the  legend  that  they  were 
tenanted  by  a  headless  ghost  whose  ajipctite 
for  youngsters  was  in.'^atiable.  The  house 
v.-js  "totally  unfit  for  a  residence  and  was 
never  occupied  as  sucli.  At  the  session  of 
1829  it  was  proposed  to  add  wings  to  the 
east  and  west  ends  and  use  it  as  a  State 
house,  but  the  proposition  failed.  The 
rooms  were  successively  occupied  by  the 
State  officers,  State  library-,  State  13ank. 
State  engineers,  Supreme  Judtres,  old  bach- 
'elors,  debating  societies,  and  Supreme  Court 
clerk.  At  the  session  of  1856-7  it  wa-s^  or- 
jdcred  to  be  sold,  and  was  disponed  of  by 
auction  April  16th,  1857,  for  six  hundred 
and  sixtv-five  dollars,  and  toni  duv.n  Ai>rll 
12-5-30.  Its  material  was  partly  u-ed  in  tl,e 
'Macv  house  and  the  dwelling  adjoininir  it. 
1  The  Circle  has  since  been  u.sed  for  political 


IS 


LOGA^-'S  HISTOF.Y  OF 


and  otlier  open  air  niectinus.  In  the  fall  of 
1SG7  tlie  city  council  ordered  it  graded, 
planted,  fenced,  and  surrounded  with  a  de- 
cent sidewalk,  for  tlie  iirst  time  in  its  his-, 
tory.  I 

The  Asv-enibly.  Jainian.-  2()th.  directed 
the  a.ffcnt  to  otfer  at  public  ^ale,  with  cer- 
tain exceptions,  all  reserved,  furfeiic^l  and 
unsold  l(jts.  Several  alleys  and  squares 
were  vacated.  Square  22  w:is  reserveil  for 
a  State  I[o~pital  and  square  2o  for  a  S:atei 
University.  This  square  has  sini-e  beeni 
clain:ed  by  the  Bloomin^on  College,  which  i 
was  tlien  a  '"State  Seminary,"  so  de-isjuited. 
in  the  act  creating  it,  and  with  fimds  and! 
lands  specially  set  apart  for  it ;  and  tho'.rghi 
afterward  made  a  cullege,  no  act  ever  rec--fr-i 
nized  it  as  the  "  Univer.-ity  "  for  which  i 
square  23  was  reserved  as  a  site,  nor  has| 
tlie  Assembly  ever  at  any  time  in  any  man-| 
ner  given  it  any  claim  (^n  that  square.] 
The  Assemhlv.  January  2'ltli.  1S32,  au-| 
thorized  the  agent  to  lease  stjuare  25  fori 
thirty  years  to  the  trustees  of  the  Clarion i 
County  Seminary,  who  miylit  build  on  the! 
south-east  or  south-west  corner  thereof,  and; 
if  the  square  was  needed  fur  a  university  l>e-l 
fore  the  lease  expired,  a  half-acre  where  the 
seminary  sKxid  was  to  be  sold  or  deedetl  to; 
the  trustees.  The  trustees  took  posses-sioni 
under  the  lease,  and  in  1S3;3— 1  built  on  the 


H^  -a  3  H  M 


{Marion  County  .^eminary.) 

south-west  corner  and  opened  the  school 
September  1st,  1S34,  with  E.  Dumont  as 
princiijal.  "\V.  .J.  Hill  sui  ceeded  Januarv, 
1835;  Thom;Vi  D.  Gregg,  May,  L<36 ;  \Vm. 
Sullivan,  Decemlier,  l.'^oG  ;  Wm.  A.  IL.lli- 
dav,  Auunist,  1S37  ;  James  S.  Kenqx^r,  Oc- 
tober, 1S3S  ;  J.  P.  Saflbrd,  1843  ;  Benjamin 
L.  Lang,  1S44.  The  seminary  was  Ions: 
the  leading  school  in  Central  Indiana,  and 
under  Kemper,  Saiiord  and  Lang  had  a 
high  reputation.  Many  of  the  present  b-vi^- 
iness  men  of  the  city  were  wholly  or  par- 
tially educated  in  it.     After  the  city  free 


school  system  was  adopted  the  building:  was 
used  from  Sept.,  ISo3.  t.:)  1859,  ;is  a  higli 
school,  but  w:us  torn  down  in  August  and 
Septemlwr,  1S60.  After  tlie  lease  to  the 
seminary  trustee-,  tlie  Assembly  .iirL,:ted 
the  agent,  February  6th,  1837,  to"  lea-e  t'ue 
north-west  corner  for  twenty  years  to  the 
Lutheran  church,  the  lease  to  be  given  up 
if  the  square  was  needed  for  a  Univ.  r.-ity. 
The  church,  however,  was  built  elsewhere. 
On  the  17tli  of  February,  1838.  the  agent 
was  directed  to  lease  the  north-west  ci.nier 
for  twenty  years  to  the  trustees  of  the  Indi- 
anapolis Female  Institute,  tirst  getting  a  re- 
lease from  the  Lutheran  church^  but  ttie  in- 
stitute also  was  afterward  built  elsewhere. 
On  the  2Ist  of  January,  1S;.",0,  the  Governor 
antl  State  othcei-s  were  diret-ted  to  sell  one 
acre  of  the  scptare  at  its  appraised  value,  to 
the  Indiana  Asburv-  University  for  tlie  u.-e 
of  its  medical  department,  the  Central  Med- 
ical College.  The  acre  was  accordingly  se- 
lected, and  appraised  at  S3,56(),  but  the 
appraisement  being  thought  too  high,  and 
ojiposition  arising  to  the  sale,  it  was  never 
completed,  and  the  college  was  discontin- 
ued. In  lStJ5-6  the  city  took  possession  of 
the  square,  fenced,  graded  and  planted  it  at 
an  expen-^e  of  over  S2,0o0,  and  in  future  it 
will  probably  be  used  as  a  park.  Ilitlierto 
it  has  been  used  as  a  pasture,  as  a  lumber 
and  stone  yard,  and  as  a  parade  and  play 
ground.  In  June,  1860,  a  large  ])art  of  It 
was  covered  with  a  frame  structure  calie<l  a 
"Coliseum,"  built  by  Mr.  Ferine,  and  m- 
tended  for  shows  and  monster  meetings. 
The  edifice  -was  about  three  hundre-l  feet 
square,  consisted  of  a  board  wall  twentv-tive 
feet  high,  with  battlemented  towers  at  tlie 
entrances  and  corners.  The  interior  con- 
tained a  large  pit  or  open  space  at  the  >■  .uth 
side,  with  a  tall  tlag-stati"  from  which  -^eats 
ranging  from  four  feet  at  the  front  to  twenty 
feet  high  near  the  walls,  were  arranged  on 
the  east,  west  and  north  sides,  making  an 
amphitiieatre  capable  of  seating  tifteen  or 
twenty  thiusand  persons.  Wide  aisles  led 
to  the  several  tiers  of  seats.  Ey  great  efibrts 
it  was  got  ready  and  opened  July  4th  with 
a  military  parade,  band  concert,  and  balloon 
ascension  by  J.  C.  iJellman,  closing  at  night 
with  the  tinest  display  of  fireworks  ever 
seen  here.  The  enterprise  was  not  pecuni- 
arily succes.-ful,  but  deserv'ed  to  be  so,  if 
oidy  for  its  magnitude  and  boMness.  Xo 
au<.litorium  as  large  has  ever  been  built 
elsewhere  in  the  ^Vest,  and  perliai)s  not  in 
the  comitry.  After  standing  s<jme  wc-eks  it 
iv-a,s  torn  away.  The  vacant  S(juare  was 
sub>e<4uently  used  for  military'  parades,  es- 
pecially during  the  Morgan  raid,  when  the 
City  Kegiment,  twelve  hundred  strong,  was 
daily  and  nightly  mustereil  there  at  stroke 
of  bell,   to  go  tlirougli   agonizing  partings 


INDIANArOLIS  FROM  ISIS. 


19 


with  mrithcrs,  wives  and  swc;itheart.«,  while; reader.  N.  Enlton  orator.  J<ihn  Ilavs  pro- 
their  twelve  hundred  martial  bosom<!vide!i  tlie  dinner,  which  clo-ed  with  tiie 
throbbed,  doub:le.-s,  witli  stron;::  desires  toiUHnal  toasts  and  speeches.  The  first  public 
meet  liie  foe.  Ischool    examinati(.in    and    exhibition    tonk 

Tiie  Journi!  in  February,  1S27,  said  the;place  at  the  c.iurt  house  October  oth.  Dur- 
town  then  ci^ntaiued  a  courthouse,  a  Pres-tinEC  the  fall  squirrels  and  other  animals 
byterian  church  with  thirty  members;  a  1  were  misratim;  in  great  numbers,  and  sev- 
Baptist  church  with  thirty-six  members,jeral  bears  were  killed  close  to  town, 
worshi^iing  in  a  small  cabin  :  a  Methodist  Ilitlierto  the  lailies  of  the  place  had  been 
church  with  ninety-three  members,  worship-|com]ieHed  to  make  their  own  bonnets  and 
ing  in  a  small  cabin,  but  building  a  newjclothes  in  backwoods  fashion,  but  in  Octo- 
brick  ciiurch,  the  walls  of  whicli  were  com-iber  tb.e  first  millinery  establishment  was 
pleted  and  enclosed  during  the  fall.  Ajoptned  by  Mrs.  Matilda  Sharpe,  and  there- 
Sabbath  sclii.iol  had  also  existed  for  five: after  style  began  to  be  assumed  in  the  ucw 
years,  and  now  contained   twenty  teachei-stown. 

and  one  hundred  and  fifty  scholars.  There!  The  town  improved  but  slowly  from  tliis 
were  t\'.euty-five  brick,  sixty  frame,  andidate  to  lSo-1.  Tlie  settlement  wa.s  mainly 
eighty  hewed  and  rough  log  house,  in  the! on  Washintrton  street  and  one  or  two 
town.  In  the  fall  it  stated  that  rents  wercisquares  north  and  south,  with  detached 
high  and  houses  in  demand.  Tiie  Govern-;dwellings  on  other  parts  of  tlie  plat.  The 
or's  Oircle  was  being  built.  Six  two-story j timber  had  been  cut  from  the  greater  por- 
and  ♦^v.^  nne-story  bric^k  huuses.  with  a  largeition  of  the  plat,  but  the  outlots  were  still 
number  of  frame  houses,  had  been  built.  It^in  t tie  woods.  Large  trct-^  .-toi/d  in  places 
c;'.!led  for  the  introduction  of  steam  engines;  within  two  sq\iares  of  Wasliington  street, 
and  home  manufacturing,  and  said  nearlyjand  the  greater  part  of  the  ninth  ward  was 
SlOjOOO  worth  of  goods  and  provisions  had; a  forest  till  1846.  All  the  territory  south  of 
been  brought  to  the  town  and  sold  during; Maryland  and  east  of  Meridian  streets  w;\.s 
the  past  year.  Among  the  articles  wereiunimproved  except  as  farms  till  18-1-3,  and 
seventy-six  kegs  tobacco,  two  hundred  bar-jmost  of  it  till  1855.  A  fine  walnut  grove 
rels  Hour,  one  liundred  kegs  powder,  four; existed  in  the  first  and  second  wards  north 
thousand  five  hundred  pounds  spun  yarn,iof  2Sorth  street,  and  Drake's  addition  was  a 
and  two  hundred  and  thirteen  barrels  oiigood  hunting  ground  till  18-18.  Squirrels, 
whisky.  Seventy-one  additional  barrels  o^irabbit-s  and  turkeys  were  killed  in  sections 
whisky  had  also  been  made  here  and  sold. i now  thickly  peopled.  No  grading  what- 
A  Sunday  school  census  taken  November j ever  had  beett  done,  and  few  sidewalks  ex- 
25th  shijwed  five  hundred  and  twenty-nine, isted,  even  on  Washington  street.  Ponds 
white,  and  thirty-four  colored  males";  fourlalonsr  the  bayous  atJbrded  skating  in  winter, 
hundred  and  seventy-nine  white,  and  twenty! and  in  summer  were  covered  by  green  scum 
four  colored  females;  total,  one  thousand'and  tenanteil  by  countle-s  Irogs.  The  street.s 
and  sixty-six  inhabitants  in  the  town.  Twojwere  ~emi-fiuid  in  thawing  weather,  but  the 
hundred"  and  eighty-fuur  barrels  of  whiskyjdrainage  in  many  places  was  better  than 
seems  a  large  allowance  for  this  numtwr  of;>ince  the  engineers  changed  ii.  The  town 
people,  but  the  water  then  was  doubilessjwas  a  dull  country  village,  with  no  excite- 
very  impure,  Ironi  the  vast  quantity  of  de-jment  beyond  the  annual  sessions,  when  a 
caving  vegetable  matter.  "  j little  animation  was  given  to  societv  and   to 

A  tornado  passed  a  few  miles  .=<.ath  of  1  trade.  It  seemed  to  have  attained  its 
town  on  the  5th  of  April,  destroyiiig  thej growth.  Few  expected  a  brighter  future, 
timber  but  injuring  no  person.         '  jnor  was  there  any  prospect  of  it  till  the  in- 

The  sale  of  lots  ordered  bv  the  A.s=-^mblvlternal  improvement  scheme  was  origin:>.ted. 
took  place  Mav  7lh  and  8th."  One  Inindredj  1828.  The  spring  was  very  wet  with 
and  fiftv-threo"lots  (twentv-fcjur  of  teem  onheavy  rains,  and  in  May  a  fiood  occurred 
Washiiigton  street.)  and  thirty  or  forty  in  White  river,  rivaling  that  of  1824,  and 
squares  of  four  acres  each,  were  oaered.hhose  of  1847  and  18oS.  Less  damage  w;i3 
One  hr.ndred  and  sij:  lots  sold  at  SISO  per;done  then  than  since,  there  being  fewer  set- 
acre,  and  thirtv-eight  outlots  and  .squares  at;tlements  along  the  bottoms.  There  is  no 
S23  per  acre."  Mr.  Knight,  commissioner' doubt  that  White  river  then  had  a  greater 
in  charge  of  the  National  road  survev,  lo-! average  depth  of  water  than  now,  and  was 
catcd  the  line  to  this  point  July  8tli',  and  better  fitted  for  navigation.  Repeated  at- 
went  on  westward  next  day.  The"Foiirth  of  tempts  were  made  to  navigate  it,  and  boat.s 
July  was  ushered  in  with  twcntv-tbur  of  good  size  used.  In  May,  1822,  the  ke-el- 
rounds  bv  the  new  artillery  companv;  The  boat  Eagle,  fifteen  ton.^,  with  salt  and  wliis- 
procession  included  citizens  and  the  rifidkv,  arrived  from  the  Kanawlia,  and  tiie 
and  artillery  companies,  and  marched  to, Roxer,  thirty-three  tons,  with  merchandise, 
the    court   house.       Ebenezer   Shaqie   wxsTrom   Zanesville ;    and  the  Dandy,  twenty- 


'20  LOGAN'S  HISTORY  OF 


eight  toa=,  in  ]\Iay,  1S24,  Avith  -alt  and  river  fallinir  nspiillv  they  returned.  In 
whi.-ky,  and  many  other  boats  arrived  from  IS^y-oO  GL-ucral  llanna  "and  others  took 
the  lower  river,  and  departed  loadi.-d  with  contracts  on  the  National  road,  and  resolved 
produce.  Large  tiatboats  also  were  built  to  brin?  up  a  boat  to  haul  stone  and  timber 
and  ran  to  the  southern  market,  and  the  from  the  biufik  for  the  abutment.s  and 
trade  was  kept  up  till  the  dams  on  tiie  river  bridge.-.  A  medium-sized  boat,  the  "  Eob- 
interfered  with  its  navigation.  The  Assem- ert  llanna,"  was  bought,  and  after  S'.me 
bly  and  the  people  regardt:d  ^Vliite  river  as  trouble  arrived  here  loaded  and  towin?  a 
a  very  important  channel  for  heavy  freights,  loaded  barge,  on  the  11th  of  April,  l":jl. 
Alexander  KaL-ton  was  appointed  cotnmis-  She  was  greeted  bv  the  entire  communitv, 
sioner  February  1:2th,  IS'-'O.  to  survey  and  and  by  Captain  Elythe's  artillery  srpiad  tir- 
report  the  expense  of  removing  obstructions  ing  a"  National  salute.  A  meeting  was 
ill  it  from  drift,  snags  and  le^aning  trees,  called  on  the  12th,  Isaac  Elackiord,"presi- 
He  maile  the  survey  during  tlie  summer. 'dent,  and  James  ^Morrison,  secretarv,' which 
and  reported  that  from  Sample's  Mills  in;passed  resolutions  of  welcome,  askLti'for  the 
Randolph  county  to  Indianapolis  was  one  improvement  of  the  river,  and  extended  an 
hundred  and  thirty  miles,  from  here  to  the, invitation  to  the  boat  owners  and  olHcers 
folks  two  huri(ired  and  eighty-tive  miles.'for  a  public  dinner.  Two  excursion  trips 
and  from  thence  to  the  Wabash  forty  miles;  were  made  up  the  river  on  the  12th  with  a 
total  four  hundred  and  fifteen  miles  ;  and  great  crowd  of  pa-sengers.  Diu'in^  the  see- 
that  for  that  distance  the  river  might  beond  one  she  ran  into  the  trees  on  the  bank, 
made  navigable  for  three  months  in  the, knocking  down  her  pilot-house  and  chim- 
year  bye.xpendingSl,o<)0.  Tliei-,' \vero  two^ncy-,  and  ir.jr.rli.g  the  \uicel-huuse.  The 
falls,  one  of  eighteen  inches,  eight  miles  pa,s,sengers  were  terriblv  frightened,  and  ^lid 
above  Martinsville,  and  one  of  nine  feet  in  |  oft'  in  "great  nnmbei-s."  The  boat  was  too 
one  hundred  yards,  ten  miles  above  the' high  and  large  for  so  narrow  a  river  wi;h 
forks.  There  was  also  a  great  drill  at  the  overhanging  trees,  and  imfit  for  the  purpose 
Daviess  and  Greene  county  line.  After  this' for  which  she  was  designed.  She  started 
report  the  Assembly  repeatedly  memorial-|down  on  the  loth,  grounded  f<;r  six  weeks 
ized  Qingress,  asking  for  the  improvement:on  a  bar  at  Hog  Island,  wliere  the  captain's 
of  the  river,  and  considerable  sums  wcre''-hild  was  drowned,  and  did  not  get  out  of 
appropriated  from  the  State  treasury  for, the  river  till  the  fall..  No  subsequent  eiibrt 
that  object,  the  county  commL-sioners  along'at  steam  navigation  was*  made  till  ISGo, 
th'^  river  governing  the  exnonditiue.  In;  when  the  Indianapolis  and  Waverly  packet, 
1830-35,  John  Matthews  and  others  pro- Governor  Morton,  built  by  a  company  at  a 
posed  slackwater  navigation,  building  lev-|cost  of  S11,000,  ran  a  few  trips  several  miles 
ees,  dims  and  locks,  and  using  steamboats; up  and  down  the  river  during  the  summer 
and  tugboats  for  barges,  to  carry  passengers, and  fall,  and  foUowine  spring.  From  want 
and  freight  from  this  point  to  the  loweriof  water,  leakiness,  defective  con-truetion, 
river.  Mills  would  be  built  at  the  damsjand  distrust  by  the  community,  slie  failed  to 
and  serve  as  feeders  to  the  trade,  and  the: realize  the  hopes  of  her  builders,  and  was 
stone,  timber,  iron  ore,  coal  and  produce  of|  wrecked  just  below  the  bridge  in  the  siuii- 
the  river  valley,  could  be  brought  morejmer  of  1S6G,  after  a  brief  but  glorious  ca- 
cheaply   to   our   town   than   by  any   other'reer. 

mode.  Matthews  pre«.sed  thi.s  plan  K.r|  The  first  stage  line  from  Indianapolis  was 
years,  and  the  Assembly  in  February,  18-jl,i>tarted  to  Madison  by  Mr.  .Johnson,  in  June 
chartered  the  White  River  Navigation'or  July,  1S2S.  In  July  the  Indianapolis 
Company  for  twenty  years,  but  nothing  v.'as; Library  Society  was  formed,  the  members 
done,  not  even  a  survey,  to  test  the  praotl-' donating  the  books,  and  continual  its  ex- 
cability  of  the  pdan.  If  at  all  feasible  itlLstence  for  six  or  eight  years.  Tiie  Fourth 
certainly  deserves  attention  and  a  survey  at  of  July  was  celebrated  with  more  display 
least  to  test  its  practicability,  lor  our  manu-than  usual.  The  artillery  and  rifle  com- 
facturers  and  builders  M-c^uld  derive  advan-  panies,  the  citizens,  and  the  Sabbath  school, 
tages  from  it  they  can  never  get  from  any  which  now  participated  for  the  first  time, 
other  work.  In  1S28  or  9,  Governor  Noble' formed  in  procession  and  marcheil  to  the 
becoming  convinced  that  steamboats  of  acourt  house.  Hiram  Brown  acted  as  presi- 
small  size  could  be  used  on  the  river,  en-  dent,  Hem-}-  Erenton  vice  president.  Rev. 
deavored  to  get  some  captain  to  bring  a  Geo.  Eu-h  was  chaplain,  A.  Ingram  reader, 
boat  to  this  point,  and  ofi'ered  S200  reward  B.  F.  Morris  orator.  The  Handelian  Soei- 
to  the  first  one  who  succeeded,  and  to  se!!  ety  (formed  in  the  spring,)  furnidied  the 
the  cargo  free  of  charge.  In  April,  iS3",  mu-ic.  Al't.'r  the  exercises  closed  the  Sab- 
Captain  Saunders  v.itli  the  '' Traveller ''; bath  school  returned  to  the  school  hou.-e, 
reached  Spencer,  and  the  "Victory"  came  and  the  military  and  citizens  marched  to 
within  fifty-five  miles  of  this  point,  but  the  Bates'  grove,  east  of  town,  where  a  dinner 


I>'DIANAPOLIS  FROM   1S18. 


21 


was  earon,  witli  tlie  u>nal  toat^ts  and  .-peech-,it  promised  a  direct  route  to  the  East,  and 
es.  A  military  ball  at  Vi-jjus'  tavern.  oppo-Iits  early  completion  was  contidenrly  expect- 
site  the  court  house,  clo'^cd  the  festivities.  ied.  It  was  begun  in  ISoO,  but  Irora  deli- 
Nine  hundred  and  thirteen  votes  were  cient  appropriations,  and  tlie  fact  tliat  work 
cast  at  the  Au;,'ast  election,  and  nine  hund-,  was  carried  on  siianiraneuusly  across  the 
red  and  sixty-one  at  the  November  election,! whole  State,  it  progressed  slowlv,  and  was 
Adams  receiving  live  hundred  and  eighty- abandoned  in  loo'J  before  its  completion, 
two,  Jackson  three  hundred  and  seventy- The  bridge  here  was  contracted  for  .July 
nine.  The  first  cavalry  company,  David ;26th.  ISol,  by  Wm.  11.  Wcrnweg  and  Wal- 
Buchanan,  captain,  was  organized"  in  Aug- iter  Blake,  at  .SIS.OOO,  and  linislied  in  the 
ust.       A    heavy   emigration    westward    oc-!sprLng  of  1S.>4. 

ciirred  this  fail,  and  also  daring  several  iol-\  1  SoO.  The  winter  was  very  severe,  the 
lowing  years,  tifty  teams  per  day  often  pass-^thermometor  marking  five  or  six  deg.  be- 
ing through  town.  A  similar  movement 'low  zero,  and  much  snow  fell.  The  Le;.ns- 
occurr^-d  in  l."^:J9-40.  In  December,  twen-lature  celebrated  the  Sih  of  January,  A.  F. 
tN^-eight  blocks  and  seventy-two  lots  in  theiMorri^on  delivering  an  address.  For  eight 
old  plat  were  yet  unsold,  and  nearly  all  thc'or  ten  years  afterward  this  celebration  con- 
donation land  outside  the  jdat.  The  winter! tinned  regularly.  A  theological  debate — the 
was  colder  than  tL'^ual,  with  much  snow  in! first  one  here — on  the  future  punisliment  of 
February.  the  wicked,   began  January  21st,  between 

1829.  ,Thc  Methodist  Sabbath  school,  (Jonathan  Kid  well,  Universalist,  and  Eev. 
the  seK'ond  one  in  the  town,  was  organized! Edwin  Hay,  ^lethodist.  Like  all  such  dis- 
April  24th  with  eleven  tcacliers  and  forty- icuss-ions  it  setiled  nuLuhig  and  rou^^cd  bad 
six  scholars,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  had  feelings. 

twenty-.-even  teachers  and  one  hundred  and!  The  Indiajia  Democrat,  nn  administration 
forty-six  scholars.  Wesley  Chapel  school  |  paper,  was  first  is.-ued  by  A.  F.  Morrison  in 
is  its  presejit  representative,  but  eight  or, the  spring.  The  Gazette,  which  had  been 
nine  colonies  have  left  it  since  its  origin,  ipubli-lied  since  January,  1822,  was  discon- 
The  Fourth  of  July  hitherto  had  been  cele-ilinaed  in  tlie  fall,  and  the  Detuocrat  fur- 
brated  by  the  civic  ami  military  procession,;nished  to  its  subscribers.  The  paper  was 
the  scliools  participating  for  the  first  time  published  till  1841,  the  office  being  most  of 
in  182S,  but  this  year  the  school  display; the  time  in  a  one-story  brick  building  at  32 
was  the  only  one.  Tiie  two  town,  witii  five;  West  Wa.-liington  street,  and  was  owned 
country  .-chools,  formed  on  the  Circle,  and  successively  by  Morrison,  Morrison  &  Bol- 
accompanied  by  eight  hundred  adults, !ton,  Bolton  cN:  Livingston,  and  John  Liv- 
marched  to  Bates'  woods,  on  East,  between  ingston.  It  was  sold  to  the  Chapmans  July 
Ohio  and  Market  streets,  where  the  children; 21st,  1841,  who  moved  the  ofilce  to  a  frame 
were  seated,  a  hymn  suns:,  and  bread  and  house  where  Blake's  Commercial  Kow  now 
water  distributed.  Keverend  Jamison'stands,  and  changed  the  name  to  Indinna 
Hawkins  yirayed,  Ebenezer  Sharpe  was :6t;i^;'ne/.  The  second  number  of  the  6't;/!/.;i':i 
reader,  James  Morrison,  orator,  and  Rev.  i  was  issued  August  4th,  1841,  and  ^\eekly 
Hemw  Brenton  clo^ed  with  benediction,  and:afterward.  In  November,  1844,  the  ofiice 
the  procession  returned  to  town.  Janiesi  was  moved  to  a  brick  built  for  it  en  North 
Blake  acted  as  marshal,  and  continued,; Illinois  street.  In  November,  1846,  Jolm 
with  but  few  exceptions,  to  act  in  that  ca-,S.  Spann  became  a  partner.  Chapman  I'c 
pacity  for  nearly  thirty  years  afterward. ;S[>ann  dissolved  ]\Iay  2(Jth.  18o0,  and  June 
The  Sabbath  school  celebration  continued  a; lit  \V.  J.  Brown  bought  the  paper  and 
leading  feature  till  18-58,  but  the  number  of  moved  it  to  8  \Ve~t  Washiutjton  street,  Ellis 
schools  and  scholars  became  so  srreat  that  A:  Spann  retaining  the  old  job  office.  In 
the  general  celebration  was  aband<med.  The' August,  18o2,  the  office  was  moved  to  Tom- 
exercises  were  always  of  the  •^ime  character,  jlinson's  new  building,  and  publi>hed  by  A. 
During  the  war  the  military  displays  werelH.  Brown  ( Wm.  J.  Brown,  editor,)  till 
the  chief  attraction.  Since  that  date  the; March  2d,  ISo-'j,  when  "Walker  c^  Cottara 
firemen's  processions  and  picnics  have  been: became  proprietors.  Walker  and  Ilolcombe 
the  chief  features  of  the  day.  leditors.     Spann  <i  Norman  Ixiught  it  De- 

There  was  much  sickness  during  the  sum-icember  4th.  l8o-5,  and  sold  to  Larrabee  «i 
nier  and  fall,  ami  many  deaths,  an  unusual, Coitani  January  24th,  18-j6,  A.  F.  M<jrrison 
proportion  being  young  married  people.! and  W.  C.  Larrabee  being  editors.  Larr.i- 
The  Indiana  Colonization  Society,  Isaac; bee,  Bingham  &  Co.  became  proprietors 
Blackford,  president,  was  organized  in  No-! August  2oth,  1S5G.  Bingham  c^  Doughty 
vember,  and  continued  its  operations  for,  bought  it  January  13th,  18-37,  and  n\oved 
many  years  afterward.  In  vSeptember  andjihe  onice  to  the  old  Capital  House.  On  tiie 
October  contracts  were  let  on  the  NationaiiTth  of  Vpril,  18-')7,  the  office  was  nearlv  de- 
road.     The  people  Avcre  much  rejoiced,  foristroyed  by  a  boiler  explosion,  which  killed 


LOGAN'S   HISTORY  OF 


a  boy  and  badly  injured  one  or  two  others.  Among  its  animals  was  a  "Kmipo,"  doubt- 
and  the  paper  was  sti.-pended  till  Ajiril  21>t.:less  a  relative  of  tlie  ''  Gnyascutas."  The 
The  otFice  had  just  been  completed  and  the  summer  w-.ts  hot  and  drv.  \vit!i  con-iderahle 
engine  put  in  motion  fur  the  tirst  lime,  and  sickness  and  many  deaths.  Tlie  Indiana 
the  explosion  entailed  a  heavy  loss.  The  Ilistori.'al  Soeietyj  Benjamin  Parke,  presi- 
papcr  wa.s  then  publi,-hed  by  the  .SV;)a/u7;dent,  15.  F.  Morris,  secretary,  was  organized 
Company  till  July  31st,  1S61,  when  it  was  December  11th,  at  the  comt  hou-e,  and  con- 
moved  to  the  old  Locomotive  oihce  in  Ilub-'tinued  its  existence  for  manv  years.  Tlie 
bard's  block,  the  Locomotive  discontinued  first  gift  enterprize  was  started  in  the  fall  by 
and  merged  with  the  S;nfin':l,  which  waSjT.  J.  Langdon,  who  offered  the  Indianapo'- 
then  published  by  Elder,  Ilarkness  c^  Bing-j lis  Hotel,  opp(,site  the  court  hou^e.  as  the 
ham.  A  new  three-storv"  brick  office  was' tirst  pri/.e.  to  be  drawn  December  oUth. 
built  for  it  in  ISGo,  on  Pearl  and  Meridian!  The  winter  of  18iiO-l  was  .steadilv  and 
street.s,  where  it  was  issued  till  lS(i.),  when: severely  cold.  The  snow  fell  twelve  to 
the  paper  was  bougiit  by  C.W.Hall  and  eighteen  inches  deep  in  February,  and  the 
moved  to  the  old  otHce,  16  East  Washingtonithermometor  fell  to  IS  and  20°  below  zero, 
street,  where  it  has  since  been  located.  The  by  far  the  coldest  weather  since  the  seitie- 
name  was  changed  to  the  LidinjiapoHs  ijTfr-  ment. 

aid,  and  published  by  Hall  &  Hutchinson]  183  I.  M.G.Roger*?,  the  first  portniit 
till  Octolier,  ISijn,  when  it  passed  into  a  re- 1  painter  here,  announced  his  arrival  in  Feb- 
ceiver's  hands  and  was  bought  by  Lafe'ruary  for  a  few  weeks'  stay,  at  Henderson's 
Develin  in  January,  1867,  and  published  tavern.  In  the  same  month.  San.iu  1  Hcn- 
b_v  uiiu  iili  April,  i.>66,  when  R.  J.  pjrigtit  derson,  wiio  had  been  postmaster  sin<-e  Fei)- 
became  the  owner  and  changed  the  name  tO'ruary,  1822,  was  removed  and  John  Cain 
Indi^'inapriis  Seiif.inel.     Joseph  J.  BiuEjham^appciinted. 

has  been  the  chief  editor  for  over  ten  years. I  Several  railways  had  been  projected  in 
The  Chapmans  issued  the  first  daily  pa-  1830,  and  the  Assembly  on  the  2d  and  3d 
per  in  the  place,  the  Dni^y  .Sentinel  first  ap-'of  February  chartered  the  Madison  tS;  Imii- 
pearing  December  6th,  1841,  and  continu-ianapolis,  Lav.'renceburgh  &  Indianapolis, 
ing  during  the  session.  The  -second  volumei Harrison  &  Indianap'dis,  Lafayette  li  Indi- 
began  December  Gth,  1842.  for  the  session, ianapolis,  New  Albany,  Salem  cV:  lnd;ana[)0- 
and  tlie  third  Iiegan  December  6th,  1843. i lis,  and  Ohio  (.<:  Indianapolis  railways.  Sur- 
Semi-weckly  editions  had  leen  i--ued  dur-!veys  were  made  on  tliem  in  following  }'ears, 
ing  the  sessions  bef<"ire  and  after  these  di'tes.jbeing  com[)leted  on  the  Madi-on,  Lawrcice- 


The  present  daily  becran  April  28tli,  L>ol, 
and  ap{K-ared  regularly  till  April  7th,  1857, 
when  the  boiler  explosion  destroyed  the  of- 


burgh,  Jeti'ersonville  and  Lafayette  roads  in 
1835.  Several  were  rechartered  in  1S34-5, 
and  some  work  done  on  them.     Thev  were 


fice  and  suspended  the  paper  till  April  21st.  I  revived  in  18;i-5-6,  and  State  aid  i^iven 
It  has  since  appeared  regularly,  under  the;them,  but  stopped  with  the  State  work  and 
names  of  thi*  .Sentinel  anci  Herald.  |were  not  built  until  184'J-53. 

The  Fourth  of  July  w.as  separately  cele-|  The  agent  wa-s  directed.  February  9th,  to 
brated  by  the  scliools  and  citizen:=.  Consid-i divide  the  donation  into  outlots,  fix  a  mini- 
erable  rivalry  existed.  Demas  McFarlandmum  price,  and  sell  them  publicly  in  May. 
and  James  Blake,  the  re-{)cctive  marshals, 'The  subdivision  was  accordingly  made,  and 
addressed  the  crowds  on  the  street  corners,  nearly  nineteen  hundred  acres  in  and  out  of 
calling  for  adherents.  Rain  being  threat- the  plat  otiered  in  lots  of  two  to  fifty  acres 
ened  the  schools  went  to  the  Methodist  [at  a  minimtmi  price  of  ten  dollars  per  acre, 
church,  where  the  usual  exercises  tookjbut  a  part  only  was  sold, 
place.  The  citizens  went  to  a  grove  near  The  Assembly  on  the  10th  of  February 
the  present  central  engine  house.  Isaac; resolved  to  build  a  State  house.  A  com- 
Blackford  was  president.  W.  W.  Wick,  ora-jmittee  had  reported  in  its  favorat  the  last 
tor,  and  A.  St.  Clair  reader.  A  dinner  was  session,  estimating  the  cost  at  S56.00O,  and 
spread  and  the  usual  toasts  given.  The'estimating  the  value  of  the  unsold  donation 
cannon  was  taken  to  fire  salute-;  but  the  ar- at  SoS,000.  James  Blake  wa^  appointed 
tillery  officers  being  with  the  schools,  inex-l commissioner  to  .superintend  it  and  procure 
perienced  men  were  handling  the  gun,  and | materials,  and  S3,000  Avas  ^appropriated 
at  the  third  rire  Andrew  Smith  lost  his  arm.! therefor.  He  was  to  offer  SloO  for  a  plan 
The  accident  put  an  end  to  the  exercises;  i' to  be  reported  at  the  next  session!  compris- 
and  threw  a  damper  on  such  celcbrationsdng  a  Senate  hall  for  fifty  members,  Repre- 
for  several  years  afterward.  'sentatives'  hall   fir  one  hundred  members, 

McCoraber  (Sc  Co.'s  menaserie,  the  firstj Supreme  Court  and_  Library  rooms,  twelve 
show  hero,  exhibited  at  Henderson's  tavern  committee  rooms,  tic.  The  building  was 
July  26-7th,  and  on  the  2;M-4th  of  August! not  to  cc-t  over  .545,000.  Blake  bought 
another   exhibited    at    the    same    place. — |sorae   stone   and    other    materials,   and    re- 


INDIAXAPOLIS  FROM  ISIS. 


23 


ceived  a  plan  from  I  thiol  Town  and  I.  J. 
Davis,  of  2so\v  York  City,  ■which  was  adopt- 
ed by  the  Assembly  January  2Uth,  ISo'J, 
Noah  Xoble,  Morris  Morris  and  Samuel 
Morrill  wore  appointod  coramissionors  Fob. 
ruary  2d,  1832,  to  superinlond  tlie  builcLiii<r 
according  to  the  plan,  to  omj'loy  an  archi- 
tect, and  use  the  nuiterial  already  bont,'ht.; 
The  house  was  to  be  completed  by  2S'ovem-j 
ber,  1S3S,  and  examined  and  a]iproved  by 
a  conmuttee  of  live  from  each  Ilonse  before' 
being  acceptLd.  They  contracted  February! 
19th  with  Ithiel  Town  for  its  erection,  ati 
$58,000.  It  was  begun  in  the  sjiring  of! 
1832,  and  by  great  exertion  finished  in  De-: 
ceniber,  1835,  in  time  for  tlie  annual  session; 
beginning  on  the  7th.  It  is  generally  Doric; 
in  style,  but  contains  a  large  rotunda  and- 
dome,  surmounted  by  a  cap  ornament  mod-! 
elod  after  the  tomb  of  Lycidas.  The  brick! 
work  was  well  done,  but  the  stone  used  in' 
the  foundation  was  not  durable.  The  liouse' 
was  stuccoed  InoiJc  iniJ  out  in  imitaticn.  of 
sandstone,  and  though  well  ilone  such  work' 
is  not  duraljle  in  this  climate,  and  alwiiys' 
looks  ra'igod.  The  building  cost  about! 
$60,000,  and  was  reirarded  with  great  {(ride 
as  the  finest  in  the  ^Vest.  The  feeling  hasi 
since  diminished.  The  roof  has  several' 
times  been  }iartly  stripped  off  by  winds,  and! 
in  December,  18U7,  tlie  ceiling  of  Repre-; 
sentatives'  Plall  was  thrown  down  in  ai 
storm,  crushing  the  desks  and  injuring  the 
building.  A  new  structure  is  needed,  one 
in  which  the  materials  and  construction  will 
defy  time  and  bad  usage.  The  square  was 
filled  to  a  liopth  of  nine  feet  in  1834,  an<l 
the  trees  now  growing  on  it  were  planted  in 
1835-6.  "  j 

On  the  11th  of  April  the  steamlx)at  Rob-' 
crt  Planna  arrived  and  was  greeted  as  here- 
tofore stated.  On  the  17th  of  !May  Sophia 
Overall,  a  colored  woman,  was  lieclared  by- 
all  the  physicians  as  having  the  small  jiox,' 
the  first  case  here.  A  panic  ensued,  and  a' 
citizens'  meeting  was  called.  Dr.  S.  G.' 
Mitchell,  Isaac  Coe,  L.  Dunlap,  J.  E.  Mc- 
Clure,  C.  !Mcl)ougal,  J.  L.  Mother^head, 
Wm.  Ticknor,  and  John  II.  Sanders,  were 
appointed  the  tir^t  board  of  health,  and  au-! 
thorized  to  take  all  necessary  measures  to 
prevent  the  spread  of  the  disease.  !N'o 
other  ca.^es  occurred,  however,  and  the  pan- 
ic subsided. 

The  first  soda  foimtain  in  the  place  was 
put  up  July  2tl  in  Dmdap  t'c  !McDouga!'s 
drug  store,  and  largely  patronized.  The 
Fourth  of  July  was  colebrated  in  the  usual 
way  by  the  schools  and  young  men.  !Nine 
hundred  and  fifty  votes  were  cast  in  the 
township  at  the  August  election.  .\  full- 
grown  elephant  and  calf  elephant,  the  first 
here,  were  showri'as  "  natural  curiosities," 
at  Henderson's  tavern  August   12th.     The 


first  three-story  brick  house  in  town  was 
erected  at  4  and  G  West  Washin?ton  street, 
during  the  summer,  and  is  still  standing. 
The  Methodist  conference  held  its  fir.-^t  ses- 
sion here  October  4th,  with  a  full  attend- 
ance. _  The  summer  and  tall  were  the 
healthiest  since  the  settlement  of  the  place. 
;The  Indianapolis  Lyceum  or  Athcneum 
jwas  orsanizcd  in  the  fall,  giving  lectures 
and  scientific  discussions,  and  continued  its 
'existence  for  several  years.  The  winter 
!was  cold  and  snowy. 

I  18  3  2.  News  of  the  Indian  outbreak 
! under  Black  Hawk  was  received  June  3d, 
:and  one  hundred  and  fifty  mounted  volun- 
|teers  from  the  fortieth  regiment  were  called 
for  on  the  4th,  by  Colonel  A.  AV.  Russell, 
and  the  same  number  from  adjoining  coun- 
!ties.  They  rendezvoused  here  June  Uth, 
'armed  with  rirles,  tomahawks,  knives,  a 
I  pound  (if  powder  each,  and  balls  in  propor- 
'tion,  and  were  organized  in  three  compan- 
:!•?=,  imdpv  '  "pfMins  J.  P.  Drake.  J.  W.  Red- 
ing and  Henry  Brenton,  and  marched  for 
Chiciigo  the  same  day  under  Colonel  Rus- 
sell. The  cannon  was  fired  on  the  day  of 
rendezvous,  and  by  a  premature  exjilu^ion 
William  Warren,  an  Iri-hman,  lost  both 
arms,  shedding  the  only  blood  here  during 
that  war.  After  reaching  Chicago  the  bat- 
tallion  marched  round  the  south  end  of  the 
lake  to  St.  Jodeph,  and  returned  home  with- 
out accident  July  3d,  participating  in  the 
celebration  and  dinner  of  the  4ih  as  veter- 
ans. They  were  paid  otf  by  Major  Tarned, 
January-,  1833.  Wm.  Conner,  a  merchant 
here,  and  formerly  an  old  Indian  trader  and 
sCoiit,  piloted  tlie  expedition. 

!Meetings  had  been  held  and  subscriptions 
made  in  August  and  Septemi>er,  1832,  to 
build  a  market  house,  C.  J.  Hand,  Jolm 
Givans  and  others'  being  prominent  in  the 
movement,  and  after  some  diificulty  as  to 
location,  it  was  contracted  for  in  May,  1833, 
and  finished  in  August,  on  the  s^juare  north 
of  the  court  house,  and  regulations  airreed 
on  for  holding  the  markets.  Jo-iah  Davis, 
Thomas  !McOuatt  and  John  ^Valton  were 
the  committee  in  charge  of  the  work.  L. 
Dunlap,  J.  S.  Hall  and  D.  McFarland  were 
elected  the  first  seminary  trustees  in  Aug- 
ust. The  IndianajKilis  Ftmndry,  the  first 
in  the  place,  was  started  in  August  west  of 
the  river,  by  R.  A.  !McPherson  iS:  Co.,  and 
continued  several  yeai-s.  The  cholera  swept 
niany  {daces  in  the  West  this  year,  l)eim: 
diti'usod  by  the  troops  from  tlie  Indian  war. 
The  f>eople  here  held  meetings,  oreanized  a 
board  of  health,  and  adopted  sanitary  mea- 
sures, but  no  cases  occurred  and  the  (KUlic 
passeil  oil". 

Until  this  time  no  municipal  goveniinent 
had  existed,  the  towa^liip  and  crHuity  ofli- 
cers   enforcing   the   State    laws ;    but   at   a 


2i 


LOGA>"S  HISTORY  OF 


L'ers.    w  I  lose 


meetir.'j  held  September  Sd,  at  the  court  president,  and  a  clerk,  niar-lml,  lister,  col 
house,  it  was  resolved  to  incnrp(irute  the  lector,  trustees  and  other  otfi' 
town  under  the  general  law.  The  election  duties  were  prescribed.  Thev 
of  five  tnistees  was  held  in  September,  and-all  neoc-arv  ordinances,  lew  taxes  and'ira- 
the  board  or-ranized  shortly  after,  eleetin?  prove  the  s"treets  \ind  sidewalks  at  the  ex- 
Sanuiel  Henderson,  pre.-ident,  I.  P.  GriiTuh,:pense  of  property  holders.  Ta.tation  was 
clerk,  Samuel  Jenison,  marsiial  and  col  lee-  not  to  exceed  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  and 
tor.  The  town  was  divided  into  live  wards,  was  limited  to  the  old  plat,  though  tiie' in- 
inside  the  old  plat:  all  east  of  Alabama,  corporation  covered  the  donation.  The 
1st;  thence  we-t  to  Pennsylv.niia,  2d  ;  board  elected  under  this  act  re-enacted,  with 
thence  to  Meridian,  3d;  thence  to  Tennes-but  few  clianges,  the  ordinimces  fornierlv  in 
see,  4th ;  thence  west,  5th.  A  general  "or-^ force.  The  oihcei-s  of  the  old  board  settled 
dinance"  No.  1,  in  thirty-seven  sections.'to  the  tirst  of  April,  ISoG.  The  treasurers' 
"e.-^tablished  by  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  report  showed  Sl,610  receipts  for  the  vear  • 
town  of  Indianapolis  for  their  own  govern-'Sl,150  of  this  was  paid  for  the  Mariori 
ment  and  for  the  regulation  of  the  town,"  engine,  live  public  wells,  and  other  tire  de- 
was  probably  adopted  in  Ncovember,  and  partment  expenses,  and  a  balance  of  8124 
pul)Iished  December  1st,  signed  by  S.  Hen-,  was  turned  over  to  the  new  board, 
derson  as   president.     At  the  same  ume  ai 

market  ordinance  in  seventeen  sections  was;  On  the  17th  of  Februarv,  1S38,  tlie  place 
adopted  anil  published.  Tiie  general  ordi-' was  re-incorporated,  tiie  corporation  cover- 
nance  or  charter  i)rovided  for  tlie  election,  ing  the  donation,  but  taxation  being  still 
by  the  board  of  a  clerk  to  keen  record-;  is-|1in)i^ed  t-^  t];e  plat,  and  not  to  erccctd  i.ne- 
sue  warrants,  &c. ;  a  treasurer,  who  was  to  half  of  one  per  cent  on  real  propertv.  The 
repiort  annually  in  December;  an  asses.sor,'town  was  divided  into  six  wards^  as  follows; 
who  was  to  make  an  annual  assessment  in' All  east  of  Alabama,  the  first ;  thence  west 
January  ;  a  marshal,  who  also  acted  as  col-jto  Pennsylvania,  secojid  ;  thence  to  Merid- 
lector,  and  enforced  onlinances,  abated  nui-ian,  tliini ;  thence  to  Illinois,  fourth  ;  thence 
sauces,  ttc,  reporting  taxes  in  .June  to  the  to  Mi^si-ippi,  tifth  ;  thence  west,  sixth.  An 
treasurer.  All  these  otlicei-s  were  to  ^ive, election  was  to  be  heM  March  27th  for  a 
bond.  The  firing  of  guns,  tiying  kites,  leav-  president,  by  the  general  Vv^te,  and  une  tni.s- 
ing  open  odlar  doors,  racing  horses,  driving  tee  for  each  ward,  by  the  voters  thereof,  to 
over  foot-paths,  leaving  unhitched  team-j.hoid  office  one  year,  and  to  constitute  tlie 
letting  lings  run  at  lar^re,  keeping  stallions'' common  council,"  four  being  a  rpiorura. 
on  Washington  street,  Circ,  was  prohibited  The  president  had  justice's  jurisdiction, 
under  penalties.  Wood  piles  were  not  to  re-  and  was  to  sign  all  ordinances,  keep  a  dock- 
main  on  Washington  street  over  twelve  et,  Ac.  The  council  met  regidarlv  once  each 
hours,  or  shavings  in  any  place  over  two  month,  but  called  meetings  might  be  held, 
days.  Shows  and  tippling  houses  were  The  trustees  received  tv/elve  dollars  each 
rerpiired  to  take  out  license.  Offences  per  year.  They  could  pass  all  necessary 
against  the  ordinances  were  t>.>  be  sued  with- ordinances  for  the  improvement  and  gov- 
in  twenty  days,  in  the  name  of  tlie  trustees  ernment  of  the  town,  levy  taxes,  borrow 
before  a  justice.  Kegular  meetings  were  money,  regulate  and  license  shows,  grocer- 
held  the  first  Friday  in  each  month,  but  ies,  saloons,  fire  companies,  cS:c.  They  were 
meetings  could  be  called  at  any  time.  The  to  elect  a  clerk,  marshal,  collector,  lister, 
markets  were  held  for  two  hours  after  day-  treasurer,  supervisor,  clerk  of  markets,  and 
light,  Wednesday.s  and  Saturdays,  by  a  other  otfieers,  and  prescribe  their  duties, 
market  master,  who  governed  the  markets,, The  marshal  had  a  constable's  authority, 
tested  weights.  Arc.  Huckstering  was  pro-'and  was  to  enforce  all  ordinances.  The  of- 
hibited.  Tlie  elections  were  held  annuallv  ficers  were  to  give  bond  and  receive  such 
in  September,  and  tlie  town  continued  unuer  compensation  as  the  council  allowed.  Tax 
this  ordinance,  or  charter,  until  April,  1S:J6.  sales  on  the  municipal  assessment  were  au- 
The  otlicers  so  tar  a,s  known  with  tho.-^e  elect- thorized  and  rules  prescribed  therefor. — 
ed  at  .subsequent  dates,  are  given  in  the  Several  sides  were  made  under  this  author- 
table  hereafter  inserted.  ity.  the  fi.'-st  being  held  October  2otli,  1839, 
On  the  oth  of  February,  183(3,  the  As=em- at  Washington  Hall,  but  the  records  being 
bly  incorporated  the  town  and  legalized  the  all  destroyed  by  fire  in  ISol,  but  few  tratea 
acts  of  the  first  trustees.  The  wards  v,-.»re  remain  of  them.  North,  South,  Ea-^t  and 
left  as  before,  all  east  of  Ahibama  Itein?  the  West  streets  were  declared  public  hi^liways 
first;  thence  to  Pennsylvania,  second;  thence  and  ordered  to  be  opened.  Tlic  new  board 
to  Meridian,  third;  thence  to  Tennessw,lwas  elected  in  March  under  this  act,  and 
founh;  thence  west,  filth.  One  trustee  to  shortly  after  enacted  ordinances  regulating 
each  ward  was  to  be  elected  April  4th,  and ;  markets,  prescribing  the  duties  of  the  cor- 
the  board  was  to  elect  one  of  their  number:  poration   ofiicers,    fire   department,    police, 


INDIANAPOLIS  FKOM  ISIS. 


street      improvenient,     licensing      tippling!     The  first   trustees  made  no  effort  to  ini- 
hoiise-,  groceries,  shows,  Ac.  jprove  the  .street.-,  and  no  engineer  was  em- 

Tliis  charter,  with  some  sub^^equent  clian-  ph>yed  till  ISoG.  The  hrsi  street  iniiirove- 
ges,  contimied  in  force  till  the  city  charter  meiit  was  made  that  year  in  filling  a  pond 
was  granted  in  February,  1S47.  The  chan-  near  "Wesley  Chapel.  No  street  grading 
ges  were  as  follows:  On  the  loth  of  Feb- was  done,  and  few  sidewalks  existed,  oven 
ruary,  lSo9,  the  Assembly  orJercd  the  coun-:on  Washington  street,  till  1S39— iO.  James 
cil  to  expend  the  revenue  collected  in  \Vest|Wood  was  employed  March,  1841.  to  make 
Indiai.apolis  in  that  part  of  the  town,  and' a  street  proiile,  which  was  adopted  in  April, 
to  open  the  alleys  in  t;ie  dunauon.  In  Feb-TS42,  and  thereafter  followed  in  the  strt^ei- 
ruary,  1S40,  the  charter  v.-as  amended  so'srrades.  The  corporation  officers  and  conn- 
that  councilmeu  were  elected  for  two  years,  cilmen  from  18:12  to  1847  are  given,  as  far 
and  received  twenty-f:-ur  dollars  annually, las  known,  in  the  following  table.  The  de- 
householders  only  being  eligible.  In  Feb-  struction  of  tlie  records  by  fire  in  1851  left 
ruary,  1841,  the  office  of  marshal  was  made  no  trace  of  them,  and  the  table  has  been 
elective  by  the  people,  and  "West  Indianap-  made  from  the  contemporary  j(jU!-nals  and 
oils  was  detached  from  the  corporate  lim-itradition  : 
its ;  and  on  January  loth,  1844,  all  the  ofli-j 
cers  were  made  elective  by  the  people.  j 


TRUSTEES  AND  C'OUNCILMEN  FK03I  EACH  WARD,    FROM  1S32  TO  \SV,. 

TKAES.  1st  WARD.  2il'.V.\r.D.  3d  WAED.  4th  WARD.  JthwVRD.        Gth  WARD. 

18.32.    John  Wilkens....    H.  P.  Coourn....  John  G.  Brown S.  Henderson  Sam.  Merrill 

18;i.'J.     John  Wilkens....    K.  P.  Colmrn....  S.  Henlerson John  Cain Sam.  Morrill 

1834.  .\lex.  Morrison...    L.  I'unl  ip Jos.  Lefevre J  V  Elarieum  N;\t.  Cox....   • 

1835.  Jas.  M.  Smith Jos.  Lel'.nre Ch.ulea  Can;p;«?ll..  H.  Griflith N  E  Palmer 

183G.     Goo.  Lockerbie.    John  Fo.-ter S.  Merrill H.  Griffith J.  L.Young 

1837 Joalui.t  Soiile 

1838 C.  Scudder..  K;it.  Co.x 

1830.  Geo.  Lockerbie.    Wm.  Sullivan....  John  E.  McClare..  P.  W.  Seibert.  G.Norwood  S.S.  Rocker 

1840.  Mathew  Little...   S.  Gokl.^berry...  Jacob  Cox P.  W.  Seibort.  G.Norwood  .\..\.. Louden 

1841.  M.  Little S.  GoldsU-rry...  Jacob  Cox A.  A.  Louden.  G.Norwood  C  H  Boatri't 

1842.  Joshua  Black S.  Gold-berry...  Ja?.  R.  Nowland...  P.  W.  Seibert.  T.  Riekards  A. A. Louden 

1843.  Jo-'hua  BUck  ...   S.  Goldsberry...  Jas.  R.  Nowlaad...  A..  A.  Louden..  T.  Riekards  S.S.  Rooker. 

1844.  Wm.  Montague.  8.  GolJsberry...  Jas.  R.  Nowland...  A.  A.  Loudon..  K.  Griffith.  S.S. Rooker. 

1*45.     V,'m.  Montague.   S.  (.Toldsborry...  Jas.  R.  Kowfmd...  A.  .\.  Louden..  H.  Griffith.  Vim.  C.  V.m 

Blancuni. 

1846.    Wm.  Montatrue.   9.  Gold-berrv...  A.  W.  Harrison....  A.  A.  Louden..  C.  W.  Cady.  Wm.  C.  Van 

Blaricum. 


Note.  The  first  incorporation  in  September,  1832,  was  by  vote  of  the  people  under 
the  general  law,  the  town  being  divided  into  five  wards,  and  the  councilmen  chosen  by 
general  vote.  The '  A.ssembl7  incorporateti  the  place  in  1836,  making  five  wards,  the 
trustees  to  be  elected  by  general  vote.  On  the  17th  of  February,  1838,  the  town  wa.? 
reincorporated  and  the  trustees  made  counoilmen,  to  be  chosen  by  the  voters  of  the 
several  wards,  with  a  president  by  the  general  vote.     The  wards  were  increased  to  six 

in  number.  t 

^3)  


26 


LOGAN'S   HISTORY  OF 


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^5     Ki'^^^SiS^;     ^     S-     Siii     S 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  LSI 8.  27 


1833.  "William  Ilcnry  Harrison,  the  ^ferrill  served  as  president  till  1S40,  James 
former  Governor  of  the  Territory,  visited Morrison  till  18-30,  Ebenczer  Duniont  till 
the  town  for  the  first  lime  January  1 1th.  18oo,  H.  McCullou::;h  till  lSo9.  Additional 
He  wa,s  received  by  the  .\ssembly  and  ten-  time  was  given  to  wind  up  the  btisines-s. 
dered  a  public  dinner  at  Washin^-tvn  Hall,  Tlie  bank  was  first  located  in  the  Governor's 
January  17th,  at  which  he  made  a  Union  Circle  in  1834,  then  on  Washington  street 
speech.  He  visited  the  town  again  Januani- till  1840,  when  the  banking  house  on  Illi- 
13th,  1835.  jnois  street  and  Kentucky  avenue  being  com- 

The  first  homicide  here  occurred  on  the  plcted,  it  was  removed  to  and  remained 
Sth  of  May,  Michael  Van  Blarlcnm  drovrn-: there  till  li.J9,  being  succeeded  in  its  occu- 
ing  William  McPherson  by  up-etting  a  pancy  by  the  Bank  of  the  State.  The  old 
boat  in  the  river.  The  nuirder  created  State  Bank  wa.s  a  safe  and  verv  lucrative 
great  excitement  at  the  time.  Ho  wt\.s  enterprize  for  its  stockholders,  'and  made 
tried  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary  in  Oc- gi>od  and  .steady  dividends.  All  the  branch- 
tobcr,  1834.  The  first  wholesale  grocery  !e.s  suspended  specie  payments  under  its  di- 
wa.s  opened  in  June  by  Beard  li  Patterson. Erection  May  18th,  1837,  during  the  financial 

The  cholera  had  been  prevailing  else- panic  and  bank  run  of  that  period,  and  did 
where  this  year,  and  on  the  18Lh  of  June  not  resume  payment  till  June  loth,  1842, 
one  or  two  cases  of  supposed  cholera — not,  when  directed  to  do  so  by  act  of  the  General 
fatal — occurred  here.     The  churches  assign-]  Assembly. 

ed  and  kept  the  26th  a.s  a  special  fast  day.j  The  Branch  of  the  State  Bank  at  this 
No  other  cases  happened  then,  but  in  July  point  was  organized  November  11th,  1834, 
it  became  very  fatal  at  Saiem,  luJIaiia,  anJj'.vith  Harvey  Bate?,  preside"*-,  B  F.  >rorris, 
the  trustees  of  the  town  called  a  meeting  on  cashier.  These  officers  served  for  tM'o  or 
the  17th  at  the  court  house.  One  thousand  three  yeai-s,  and  were  succeeded  by  Calvin 
dollars  were  subscribed  by  the  citizens,  res-;Fletcher  va  president  and  Thos.  H.  .Sharpe 
olutions  passed,  a  board  of  heiilth  consisting  cashier,  who  served  till  the  chaner  expired. 
of  five  physicians  and  five  citizens  appoint-;The  State  and  Branch  Banks  began  busi- 
etl,  visiting  committees  were  assigned  to  ne.s,s  November  20th,  1S34.  The  Branch 
each  ward,  sanitary  measures  were  adopted  banking  house,  on  Pennsylvania  street  and 
and  medicines  procured.  The  trustees  were' Virginia  avenue,  wa.s  built  in  1839,  and  oc- 
also  requested  to  open  a  hospital.  The  cupied  from  1840, to  18-39,  when  it  was  sold 
Governor's  Circle  was  accordingly  becured  for  nearly  S16,000  to  the  Sinking  Fund,  and 
for  the  purpose,  and  Dr.  John  E.  McClure.by  the  Fund  in  1807  for  S30,000  to  the  In- 
a.ssigned  as  physician.  There  were  no  cases  dianapolis  Insurance  Company,  who  now 
here  however,  and  the  building  wa^  not, occupy  it.  For  many  years  the  rule  of  the 
used.  ibank  was  to  loan  but  $2(X^  to  any  one  per- 

The  first  circus,  (combined  with  a  menag- son,  unless  a  greater  sum  was  needed  for 
eric,  Brown  &  Bailey's.)  exhibited  at  Hen-jstock  or  grain  enterprizes.  which  were  made 
derson's  tavern  August  13th  and  14th.     A'^fx^cial  exceptions. 

new  graveyard  was  laid  out  east  of  the  oldj  The  old  State  Bank  charter  being  about 
one,  and  lots  sold  in  October  by  Isaac  C-oe.  to  expire,  the  General  Assembly,  on  the. 
The  great  meteor  shower  on  "the  13th  of  3d  of  March,  lS.5-3,  chartered  "The  Bank  of 
November,  from  2  A.  M.  to  daylight,  was'the  State  of  Indiana,"  with  seventeen 
witnessed  with  awe  by  the  people,  many  of  branches,  (three  additional  branches  being 
whom  thoutrht  the  end  of  the  world  wa.s' afterward  authorized,)  and  it  was  organiz.ed 
close  at  hand  and  they  unprepared  for  the^ November  1st,  185-5,  Hugh  McCullough  be- 
event.  |ing  elected  president,  and  J.  M.  Ray  cash- 

18  3  4.  The  State  Bank  of  Indiana  was|ier,  with  seventeen  directors — one  from  each 
chartered  January  2Sth,  1834,  for  twenty-Branch.  It  began  business  January  2d, 
five  years,  with  a  capital  of  81,000,000  in  til-  18-37,  with  a  capital  of  Si, 836,000,  and  re- 
ty  dollar  shares,  one-half  of  the  stock  to  be' ported  Si 32,216  profits  over  all  expenses  in 
held  by  the  State.  Its  charter  was  amended  the  first  six  months.  It  continued,  an  ex- 
with  its  consent  in  .several  particulars  at  tremely  lucrative  busines,s,  rapidly  extend- 
subsequent  dates.  Samuel  Merrill  was  ing  its  capital,  until  after  the  adoption  oi 
elected  president  bv  the  Ix'gislature,  with  the  National  Bank  system  and  the  taxation 
Calvin  Fletcher.  Set'on  V/.  NorrLs,  R.  Mor-iof  free  and  State  bank  paper.  In  January, 
rison  and  T.  H.  Scott  State  director?.  J. i  1865,  the  Assembly  authorized  it  to  reduce 
M.  Ray  was  chosen  cashier,  a  position  hejits  capital,  redeem  its  stock,  distribute  .^ur- 
held  till  the  charter  expired.  The  bank  plus  fund.s,  <ic.,  to  stockholders,  and  close 
wafl  organized  February  13th,  with  ten  up  its  branches  and  business,  and  at  present 
branches,  (ultimately  increa.'-ed  to  sLxteen,):it  is  about  completed,  the  branchea  having 
and  books  opened  for  stock  subscriptions  fornearly  ail  been  merged  in  National  Banks, 
thirty  days  from  the  7th  of  April.     Samuel^It  was  located  in  the  building  of  the  old 


LOGAN'S  HISTORY  OF 


State  Bank  on  Illinois  street  and  Koiitucky: in  the  basement  of  Maaonic  Hull.  The 
avenue,  wliich  ^vas  sold  in  May,  IsoS,  to;casluer,  "SV.  F.  May,  abst'on(,lt.d  in  May, 
the  Franklin  Li:e  Insurance  Company,  andl^oo,  takincc  about  SlO.OuO  with  him,  crip- 
now  occupied  by  that  e<n-]jnration.  llucdi  pling  the  bank  so  badly  that  it  collapsed 
McCulloui;!),  Gcnrijje  "\V.  Kathiiono  au'l  J. 'shortly  auerward. 

]M.  Eay  have  b^cn  the  presidents,  J.  ^I.!  The  Central  Bank,  Ozias  Bowen  and  J. 
Ray  and  Joseph  A.  Moure  cashiers  of  thejD.  Defrees,  successive  presidents.  Sidney 
institution.  I  Moore   and   "\V.   H.   McDonald,    succe---ive 

The  Branch  at  this  pnnnt  of  the  Bank  of  cashiers,  with  a  nominal  capital  of  8ou0,000, 
the  State  was  orcranized  July  2oth,  ls-35, 'bc<_';in  business  in  July,  lSo-5,  at  Xo.  23 
with  a  capital  of  SlOO.ObO,  afterward  in- ^Vest  Washin.^ton  street.  The  Tradei-s' 
creased  to  over  S"200,0'Ji}.  W.  H.  TaibottiBank,  WooUoy  eV  Wilson,  proprictur-,  bo- 
beinrr  elected  piresident.  The  stock  vvasi  af-jcran  in  1854.  at  the  otllce  of  Fllis  t^  Spann 
terward  sold  at  an  advance  to  other  parties,  ion  Illinois  street;  and  the  Metropolitan 
and  the  bank  beiran  bu-iness  in  January,|  Bank,  A.  F.  Morrisrn  Oc  Co.,  proprietors,  J. 
1S57,  at  the  norlh-west  corner  of  "\Va-hing-|D.  Diuin,  president,  Jerry  Skoen,  ca.-hier, 
ton  and  Illinois  streets,  with  George  Tot;-:ey,j  in  1855  in  Blake's  Commercial  Kow,  but 
president,  C.  S.  Stevenson,  cashier.  Steven-lneither  of  tb.em  did  much  business,  and 
son  resigned  to  enter  the  pay  department  in'suspended  payment  sonn  after  getting  their 
June,  1S61,  and  D.  E.  Siiyder  w;i.s  ca~hier!notes  in  circulation,  and  were  shortly  after 
till  November,  1S6G,  being  succeeded  by  D.iclosed  up  by  their  owners  or  by  tne  Auditor 
M.  Taylor,  present  cashier.  Oliver  Tousey'of  State.  The  free  bank  system  entailed 
vros  clCv.tv.d  plCcldcUl  lu  1/ tiiie,  ICuJ.  fftiC-igreai  lu.-:- uLi  i.hc  eoiuu-iL.uity  Iioui  tne  ui-pre- 
cceding  George  Tnusey,  Avho  had  re-i:rned! elation  of  the  clrculatiun.  the  o'.vners  rinding 
to  become  president  of  tie  Indiana  Nationaljit    much   more    profital,>le    to  buy    in   at  a 


Bank.  The  bank  was  removed  in  March, 
1860,  to  the  corner  room  of  Ynhn's  block, 
where  it  remained   till   18t]7,  when  i:  was 


heavy  discount    than   to   redeem   it   or   at- 
tempt to  do  a  le<jiumate  business. 

The  State  and  free  bank  sy.-^teras  have 


removed   to   the   back  room   in   the   same, been  superceded  in  the  last  live  years  by  the 
building  and  its  ati'airs  wotuid  up.  j  National   banking  system.     The  First  Na- 

A  general  bank  law  was  adopted  by  tlie  tional  Bank  was  ori^anized  August  1st,  ISbo, 
Assembly  in  May,  18o2.  and  shortly  after-, with  SloO.OOO  capital,  under _ the  Nationa_l 
ward  applications  were  tiled  by  diiferentllaw.  W.  II.  Eni.disli  was  president,_and  AV. 
parties  for  a  number  of  bank.-,  at  this  point, |R.  Nofsinger,  cashier.  John  C.  New  was 
some  of  which  were  a'terward  orgaidzedjcho.sen  cashier  Jaiuiary  lltli,  l^oo.  The 
under  other  names,  and  others  were  neverj  bank  was  reorganized  September  •22d,  1SG4, 
completed.  Among  the-e  api)lication-  were  and  the  capital  increased  to  SoiJO,i.'UO. — 
the  Citv  Bank,  nominal  capital  SoCO,000,  in  There  are  at  }iresent  sixty  stockholders. 
December,  1852,  A.  Defrees,  proprietor  ;  The  bank  was  tir.-,t  located  just  north  of 
Bank  of  Indianapolis.  J.  "Woolley  e-c  Co.,  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  then  in  the  north  room 
proprietors,  capital  S4(MJ,000,  January^  1S53;  of  the  hall,  and  removed  thence  OctoW  1st, 
■State  Bank  of  Indiana,  S5iJO,000,  January,!  1865,  to  the  corner  ruoni  of  Blackford's 
1853  ;  Agricultural  Bank,  5200,000,  Fcbru-i block.  It  lias  been  a  government  dep<3sitory 
arv,  1853^;  Traders'  Bank,  Woolley  ti:  Wil-jl'roni  its  origin,  and  has  done  a  very  estend- 
son  pro[irietors,  SG'^'O.f.KiO,  ^vlay,  ISoS.  ed  and  lucrative  business.      It.s  circulatjon 

The  banks  actuallv  orctanized  here  under  durhig  the  first  quarter  of  1868  was  S4o0,- 
the  law  were  the  liank'of  the  Capitol,  J.. 000,  uep:.sits  S7uO,000,  discounts  ?-'3uO,000, 
Woollev  &  Co.,  proprietors,  nominal  capital! surplus  875,000,  profit  and  lo-s  8125,000; 
S400,0*ii),  W.  S.  Pierce  and  J.  H.  Br.i-l  ley 'exchange  sates  in  1867,  84,620,000. 
succes.sive  presidents,  J.  Woolley,  cashier.  The  Indianapolis  National^  Bank  was  or- 
It  began  business  in  1S53  in  a  little  frame! iranized  December  15th.  1864,  v.iih  8500,- 
houseVhcre  Blackford's  block  now  stands, [OOO  capital,  Theodore  P.  Hanghev  being 
then  removed  to  Dunlop's  building,  thenjelected  president,  and  Ingram  I  letcher, 
lately  built  on  North  :ileridian  str^H;t,  andicashier.  He  re-signed  in  January,  1866, 
then  to  No.  6  .Ea.st  Washin-non  .street,]  being  succeeded  by  A.  F.  Williams,  present 
which  had  just  been  lini^hed.  The  concern! cashier.  The  bank  rented  the  corner  room 
carried  more  sail  than  ballast,  and  capsizedlof  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  where  it  has  since 
September  15th,  1857,  in  tiie  financial  .-^torm! been  locatcl.  It  has  been  a  goveniment 
of  that  date,  with  liabiLities  to  over  8SO,000,| depository  from  its  onsiu,  and  has  done  a 
nominal  a v?ets  856,000.  j  large  and  lucrative  business.     The  circula- 

The  Farmers' and  Mechanics' Bank.  Al-tion  during  the  first  tjuarter  of  186S  waa 
len  Mav  and  G.  Lee  successive  presidents,  i8450,0(.M),  surplus  fund  878,000,  deposits 
William  F.  May  and  O.  Williams  suece.ss-j.-432,90<3,  discounts  8416,0CM)  ;  commercial 
ive  cashiers,  began  business  February,  1 854, | exchange  sales  in  1867,  83,606,650. 


-     INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818.  29 

The  InJuina  National  Bank  '.viis  oruran-  It  Ls  diflicult  to  cive  with  certaintv  the 
ized,   with    i^2o0,0OU    capital,   March    14:li,!  history  of  tlie  dirlereni  private  bankin'cr  en- 

1865,  Oliver  Tousey  being  elected  president,  jtcrprises  ol'  the  city,  some  of  which  now  vie 
David  M.  Taylor,  cashier.  The  capital  v/as  in  busino-s  and  in^portance  witli  the  public 
increased  June  Gih,  LSoo,  to  S4ijO,U0O,  and j organization-.  So  far  as  is  known,  the  lirst 
on  the  27th  of  July  George  Tousey  wasj private  banking  enterprise  (though  an  in- 
elected  president,  D.  E.  Snyder,  cashier. icorporated  company  its  banking  jjrivileees 
D.  M.  Taylor  was  chosen  cashier  November;  vrere  at  first  talvcn  advantage  of  only  by  the 
26th,  IStiC.  The  bank  was  opened  at  19, secretary,  Mr.  Gregg, )  was  the  Indianapolis 
North  Meridian  street  in  July,  1865,  but; Insurance  Company,  chartered  February 
the  location  being  an  unlavorable  one,  it  8th,  1836,  with  ^2uO,0()0  capital,  and  with 
was  removed  November  26th.  lMi6,  to  the  insurance  and  favorable  banking  powers, 
corner  room  of  Yohn's  block,  the  Branch  of.  It  began  operations  in  April,  and  for  some 
the  Bank  of  the  State  removing  to  the  back, years  did  considerable  business  in  insurance 
room,  and  its  business  being  transferred  tojand  banking,  but  gradually  deelinei.l.  and 
the  Indiana  National  Bank.  The  bank  is'suspended  active  operations  about  1840.  It 
a  government  dc[X)sitory,  and  since  its  re-jwas  reorganized  by  Del'recs,  Morris  and 
moval  to  the  present  location  has  rapidly, others  in  1852  or  o,  and  continued  till  1S58 
increased  in  business.  The  circulation  dur-lor  9,  when  it  again  suspended.  In  1S65  the 
ing  June,  1S68,  v/as  i-350,000,  deposits  stock  was  purchased,  a  new  company  organ- 
$354,235,  di.-counts  S2y2,S00  ;  exchange! ized,  business  resumed,  and  the  capital  in- 
sales  in  1867,  S2,787,370.  j creased  to  S500,000.     The  old  Branch  Bank 

ino  Merchants'  National  Bank  was  or-l  building  was  bought  in  1S67.  It  now  does 
ganlzed  January  17th,  1865,  with  tlO'XOOOan  insurance  and  banking,'  business.  Its  di.s- 
capital,  Henry  Schnull.  president,  Y.  T. -counts  in  the  bank  department  for  the  first 
Malott,  casiiier,  and  began  Inisiness  at  23, quarter  of  1S6S  were  f09,220,  deposits 
North  Meridian  street,  but  rinding  that  lo-,-^  159,647  ;  exchange  sales  for  fractional 
cation  unfavorable  it  was  removed  in  Janu-!(piarter  in  1868,^67,884;  average  amount 
ary,  1867,  to  48  East  Washington  street, 'of  discounted  paper  held  during  fractional 
where  it  has  since  been  located,  and  has  quarter  of  1868,  S21G, 519. 
done  mucli  more  business.  Jolin  S.  New-j  John  Wood,  exchange  broker  and  bank- 
man  became  pre.-ident  September  1st,  1866,' er,  began  business  in  1838  and  continued 
The  circulation  for  the  first  quarter  of  186Sitill  September.  1S41,  when  he  failed,  caus- 
was  S90,U'J0,  discounts  S132,000,  surpliL-  ing  considerable  loss  to  tlie  community  from 
funds  $6,000,  profit  and  loss  S13,500  ;  ex-'the  shinplasier  notes  which  he  had  is-ued, 
change  sales  for  1867-8,  i950,000.  The'together  with  tho-e  of  other  equally  re-pon- 
bank  has  nine  stockholders.  jsible  parties,  that  he  had  circulated.     lie 

•   The  Citizens'  National  Bank  was  organ-  soon  after  left  this  section, 
ized '  November  28th,   1804,  with  S200',000i     E.  S.  Alvord  A:  Co.  did   a  banking  busi- 
capital,   Isaiah   Mansur,  president,  Asa  G.^ness  from  January,  1839,  to  1843,  but  noth- 
Pettibone,  cashier,  and  began  business  short-!ing  can  now  be  stated  as  to  its  extent  or 
ly  after  at   No.  3  West  Washington  street,  character. 

It  was  consolidated  December"  1st,  1865,'  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Sen.,  opened  an  exchange 
with  the  Fourth  National  Bank,  Isaiah  office  in  1839  in  a  one-story  frame  shed  next 
Mansur  being  elected  president,  and  Jo.-eph  to  Wolfratu  &  Rommel's  saildle  shop,  at  the 
R.  ILuigh,  assistant  cashier  of  the  combined  present  No.  8  East  Washington  street,  con- 
coriMjration,  v.-hich  retained  the  name  of  Cit-tinuing  there  till  1850.  when  he  moved  to 
izens'  National  Bank,  and  the  capital  in- the  room  now  occupied  by  Raschig's  cigar 
creased  to  S3()ti,00<).  It  was  removed  to  No.  store,  and  from  thence  in  Deceniber,_  1852, 
2  East  Washington  street  November  20th,;to  the  present  bank,   30   Ea.-t  Was'iingtou 

1866.  Joseph  11.  Haush  was  elected  cashier ^ street,  then  just  built.  Timothy  R.  Fletcher 
in  Januarv,  1866.  Circulation  June,  Ibo^,  was  a  partner  from  1839  to  1858,  when  he 
§270,000,  deposits  .8206,000,  discounts  S333,-' retired.  On  the  1st  of  June,  1S64,  S.  A. 
000,  profit  and  loss  S24,000,  surplus  fimd  Fletcher,  Jr.,  and  F.  M.  Churchman,  be- 
SS5,000  ;  excha.nge  sales  in  1567,  ■sl,067,-'came  partners,  S.  A.  Fletcher.  Sen.,  retiring 
000.  -      ifro7n  the  firm.    On  tlic  l^t  of  January,  1^68, 

The  Fourth  National  Bank  was  organ-  F.  M.  ChTirchiuan  and  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Jr., 
ized  January  2:]d,  1865.  witli  a  capital  of  dis>olvcd.  S.  A,  Fletcher,  Jr.,  retiring  iroin, 
£100,000,  Timotiiv  R.  Fletcher,  president,  and  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Sen.,  re-entering  the 
Joseph  R.  Ilauirh",  cashier,  and  Ijcgan  ba4-,firm.  The  bank  has  done  a  very  lucrative 
ness  at  No.  11  North  Meridian  street.  It  busine.ss  since  its  origin,  increasing  us  capi- 
was  merged  and  consolidated  in  December,  tal  from  S3,000  in  1839  to  i'2uO,00(J  in 
1865,  with  the  Citizens'  National  Bank,  as  1868,  and  is  now  the  leading  pnvatebank, 
above  .stated,  losing  its  separate  existence.     ;  doing  the  heaviest  banking  business  in  tiie 


30 


LOGAN'S  HISTOKY  OF 


city.  The  deposits  for  the  first  quarter  ofi  But  fevr  failures  of  banks  or  bankers  have 
1S68  were  5-635,000,  discounts  S560,0(»  ; 'occurred  here,  the  following  list  comprising 
exchange  sales  in  1S67,  $IS:22S.W0.  jalwut  all  that  have  happened  : 

Before  the  expiration  of  the  old  Statel  John  Wood's  bank,  established  in  1839, 
Bank  charter,  Calvin  Fletcher.  Sen.,  and  failed  in  1^41.  .as  before  stated. 
Thomas  H.  Sharpe,  who  had  long  been  thej  In  the  spring  of  1S52  John  Woolley  & 
pre^iident  and  cashier  of  the  Branch  at  this'Co.  began  a  private  bank  in  a  one-storv 
point,  started  the  Indianapols  Branch  Bank-| frame,  where  No.  4  Blackford's  block  is 
ing  Company  on  the  1st  of  January,  lSo7,'now,  remaining  there  till  the  establishment 
at  the  soutli-west  corner  of  "Washington  andjwas  merged  in  the  Bank  of  the  Capitol  in 
Pennsylvania  .streets,  where  the  bank  has  May,  18-33,  and  moved  to  Dunlop's  build- 
ever  since  been  located.  As  the  capital  of  ing,  and  subsequently  to  No.  8  East  AVash- 
the  old  Branch  was  diminished  and  its  bus-|ingion  street.  The  failure  of  that  bank  has 
iness  clost-d,  the  capital  of  the  Banking' already  been  mentioned.  It  prinluced  a 
Company  was  increased,  and  it  has  done  arun  on  the  other  banks,  resulting  two  days 
large  and  lucrative  busine-s,  second  only  if  after  in  the  failure  of  the  savings  bank, 
not  equal  to  S.  A.  Fletcher  &  Co.  Calvin i  William  E<)bson,  A.  L.  Yoorhees  and 
Fletcher,  Sen.,  died  May  26th,  lS6ti,  and!  others  started  a  .savings  bank  in  1854  in  the 
his  interest  in  the  bank  descended  to  hisVorner  room  of  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  Eobson 
sons,  Ingram  and  Albert  Fletcher.  Theiand  Voorhees  being  successively  the  presi- 
capital  of  the  bank  is  i^200,0<JO.  The  dis-|dents,  and  Joseph  K.  Robinson  cashier, 
counts  for  the  lirst  quarter  of  1868  were! K<jbinson  became  proprietor  in  1857,  and  in 
$50<,>,000,  deposits  5^500,000  ;  exchange  salesj  the  panic  following  the  failure  of  the  Bank 
in  1867,  1:^0,147,280.  |of  the  Capitol  was  compelled   to  suspend 

Alfred  and  John  C.  S.  Harri-on  started' payment  September  17th,  1857.  owing  Iils 
an  exchange  otSce  in  May.  1S54,  in  the| depositors  S15,000.  The  most  if  not  all  of 
second-story  room  of  the  .Johnson  building, 'this  was  paid  by  the  receiver  in  April,  1858. 
remaining  there  till  August,  1855,  when  the!  In  the  fall  of  1862  Kilby  Ferguson  start- 
adjoining  bank  building  was  completed  and'ed  the  Merchants'  Bank  at  No.  2  North 
the  bank  removed  there,  where  it  has  sincel  Pennsylvania  street,  K.  Ferguson,  proprie- 
remained.  No  change-  have  occurred  in i  tor,  G.  K.  Gosney,  cashier,  and  continued 
its  ownership  since  its  origin.  S.  W.  Wat- [business  there  till  August,  1863.  when  by 
Fon  is  cashier.  For  the  first  quarter  of  1868  Tea  son  of  unfortunate  gold  speculations  he 
the  capital  was  Sl(X>,000.  disi.'Oimts  Sl88,-!vas  com.pelled  to  suspend  payment.  The 
000,  dejjosits  8227,347 ;  exchange  sales  indiabilities  have  lately  been  settled. 
1867,  $2,140,000.  j     In  the  spring  of  1856  G.  S.  Ilamer  start- 

The  Indiana  Banking  Company,  with  seven^ed  an  exchange  oiEce  in  the  basement  of  the 
partners,  F.  A.  W.  Davis,  president,  W.  W.' American  House,  where  shaving  was  close- 
Woollen,  cashier,  was  organized  March  Ist.'ly  done  and  shinplaster  notes  circulated,  but 
1865,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000,  and  Ix'gin'the  enterprising  financier  was  arrested  in 
business  in  Vance's  building,  comer  "Wasiii-  November  for  passing  counterfeit  money, 
ington  street  and  Virginia  avenue,  Mardi' and  shortly  after  disap[>eared. 
14th,  1865,  where  the  bank  remained  liil|  No  effort  has  hitherto  been  made  to  ascer- 
^lay  16th,  1867,  when  removed  to  2.S  Ei-t'tain  the  extent  of  the  dn.-  goods  and  grocery 
Washington  street.  No  chang-es  in  or'^spi-j trade  here.  The  exchange  sales  by  the 
iziUion  or  amount  of  capital  have  since  b'ien' banks  in  1867,  amounting  to  .834,614,180, 
made.  The  discounts  for  the  first  quarter' may  give  an  approximate  measurement  for 
of  1868  were  5394,540,  deposits  §,380,274  ;!  that  year,  but  a  large  additional  sum  sliould 
exchange  sales  in  1867,  S3,000,000.  ;be  added  for  currency  transmitted  by  ex- 

J.  B.  Kitzinger  opened  a  savinirs  bank ihe  press.  It  may  be  safe  to  estimate  this  sum 
26tli  of  March,  1868,  at  38  East  Waslmg-jat  >2,884,515," one-twelfth  of  the  total,  and 
ton  street,  J.  B.  Rhzinger,  proprietor,  A.lby  adding  this  we  get  S37,498,695  as  the 
W.  Kitzinger,  cashier  ;  capital  f  50,000.         ;  approximate  importations  of  groceries  and 

Dunlevy,  Haire  i!c  Co.,  brokers,  b^gan' dry  goods  in  1867,  and  the  trade  has  rap- 
business    in    Blake's    Conmiercial    liow  ja  idly  increased  in  1868. 

February,  1856,  and  continued  here  for  a.  A  number  of  i-ailways  were  cliartered  and 
year  or  two.  They  were  agents  of  the  CIe-  re-chartered  in  1833-4-5,  and  eiibrts  made 
cinnati  banks,  and' bankers,  to  run  our  Stai^  to  build  them.  Govenunent  surveyors  ran 
and  free  banks  for  gold,  and  within  thret  the  lines  from  Lawrenceburgh,  Madison 
months  afterward  had  returned  S2,O<JO,O0";';ind  Lafayette  to  this  point,  and  from  Co- 
currency  for  redemption.  This  action  caljiimbus  to  JetTersonville,  in  Augtist,  1835. 
their  part  made  them  and  their  principal- The  fir^t  railroad  meeting  ever,  held  here 
at  Cincinnati  very  unpopular,  and  produci^i  was  on  March  24th,  18:i4,  to  secure  sub- 
tlie  commercial  convention  of  1856.  jscriptions  on  the  Lawrenceburgh  line,  from 


INDIANAPOLIS  FKOM   1818. 


31 


individiiaLs  and  from  the  county  commLj-, street,  and  the  Marion  was  locatec'l  there, 
sioners.  ^  .      |The  company  di>banded   in  October,  1S5P, 

The  first  meeting  of  the  ^^^n.£C  pany  by  during  the  trouble  preceding  the  introduo- 
tliat  name,  was  hold  at  the  court  house  Nlay^tion  of  the  paid  department,  but  re-entered 
ITlh,  Kol>ert  Brenton,  president.  Jolai  Ho-, the  service  in  Novemlier,  and  Avas  finally 
bart,  Hiram  Brown,  AVra.  Quarle;?,  and | disbanded  Februarj',  ISGU.  The  c^ld  enpine 
John  11.  Scott  were  the  speakers.  jwiis  used  by  the  company  till  July,  1858, 

A  meeting  was  held  at  the  court  house] when  anew,  powerful  side  hand-brake  en- 
June  9th  to  devise  means  for  the  suppres-  gine  wa.s  purchased  by  the  council  and  giv- 
sion  of  gambling.  Re.-olutions  were  adopt-en  to  the  company.  This  machine  was  sold 
ed,  and  prosecutions  threatened  unless  the, in  April,  ISGO,  to  the  town  of  Peru  for 
gamblers  left.     Meetings  of  a  similar  char-  S2, ISO. 

acter  were  held  in  subsequent  years,  and  an|  The  Independent  Kelief  Fire  and  Hose 
association  formed  to  suppr'.'ss  the  vice. j Company  was  formed  and  incorporated  with 
Another  raid  was  made  in  August,  1835,  oni peculiar  privileges  in  1S41,  taking  the  Good 
the  gamblers.  j  Intent  and  using  it  till   November,   1849, 

The  Indianapolis  Brewery,  the  first  one!  when  it  was  given  to  the  Western  Liberties 
in  the  place,  was  started  this  year  near  the i  Company  and  a  row-boat  engine  was  bought 
canal,  on  Maryland  street,  by  Young  vfc'by  subscription  and  money  realized  from 
Wernwag.  A  ropewalk  was  started  onjfairs,  and  used  till  August,  1858.  The  corn- 
Market  street,  east  of  the  market  house.         ipany  became  dissatisfied  with  it,  and  bought 

Thf>  Tv^nsion  a?encv  was  removed  hereji  aided  by  the  city,)  a  powerful  hand-brake 
from  Corydon  in  January.  jengine  a:  tiuu  time,  ^ilxich  thoy   u.-cd   till 

18  35.  The  State  llouse  being  nearly! they  disbanded  in  November,  1859.  Ditli- 
com{)leted,  the  Assembly,  February  7th,  di-'culty  ensued  between  the  company  and  the 
rected  the  State  treasurer  to  insure  it.  and  j  city  authorities  as  to  the  ownership  of  the 
to  buy  twenty  fire-buckets,  and  ladders  to' engines  and  other  property,  but  in  Februa- 
reach  the  roof,  and  if  the  citizens  subscribed 'ry,  18uO,  they  surrendered  everytliing  to  the 
half  the  cost  of  an  engine,  to  subscribe  thejcity  except  the  old  row-boat  engine,  which 
balance  for  the  State.  A  citizens' meeting' was  broken  up  and  the  materials  sold  in 
was  held  on  Februan.- 12th.  The  old  fire-i  April.  ISGO,  and  the  company  finally  dis- 
bucket  conipany  reorganized  as  the  Marion ;  solved.  Their  engine  house  during  the 
Fire  and  Hose  and  Protection  Company. 'greater  portion  of  their  existence  was  in 
The  trustees  were  called  on  by  resolution  tol  Hubbard's  block,  on  Meridian  street, 
subscribe  the  money  for  the  engine,  and  Tiie  Western  Liberties  Company  was 
levy  a  fire  and  public  well  tax.  Calebi formed  in  November,  1849,  taking  the  old 
Scudder  was  chosen  captain  of  the  company.  I  Good  Intent,  and  occupying  an  old  frame 
The  trustees  levied  the  tax,  and  subscrip-| house  at  the  fork  of  Wasliington  street  and 
tions  were  also  made  by  individuals;  the, the  National  road,  near  the  race,  using  a 
State  furnished  her  quota,  and  in  the  sum- 1 large  iron  triangle  for  a  bell,  but  they 
mer  of  1835  the  old  >Larion,  a  box.  hand-j moved  in  1857  to  the  house  now  used  by 
brake  engine,  was  bought  in  Phiiaiielphiajthe  steam  en<:ine  No.  1,  west  of  the  canal, 
for  about  SI, SiX"»,  and  duly  received  here  inj  In  April,  1857,  a  new  hand-brake  entrine, 
September.  A  one-story  frame  house  was; the  Indiana,  was  bought  for  them,  and  used 
first  built  for  it  by  the  State  in  1S36.  but  on^till  Noveml)er,  1859.  when  the  company 
the  6th  of  February,  1837,  a  two-storyi  was  disbanded,  and  the  steam  engine  No.  1 
frame  house  was  ordered  to  be  built  on  the! afterward  stationed  in  their  house.  The 
north  side  of  the  Circle,  and  was  erectedj  Indiana  was  afterward  sold, 
during  the  summer.  It  wa.s  occupied  as  ani  The  Invincibles,  a  company  mostly  corn- 
engine  house  and  council  chamber  till  the 'posed  of  Germans,  was  formed  in  May, 
summer  of  1551,  when  it  was  burned  and|  1852,  in  the  first  ward,  and  the  Victory,  a 
the  records  of  the  to^vn  were  destroved  with; small  hand-brake  engine,  procure^i  shortly 
the  house.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1838,|afterward,  and  used  by  them  tidl  March, 
the  Marion  Fire  Company  was  incorporated. 1 1857,  when  the  Conqueror,  a  fine  hand- 
In  the  spring  of  1840,  the  Good  Intent,  ai brake  engine,  was  bought  and  used  by  them 
box,  hand -brake  engine,  was  lx>ught  in|till  August,  1859,  when  the  company  dis- 
Philadelphia,  and  used  for  a  time 'by  thejbanded  and  surrendered  its  property  to  the 
Marion  corapanv  wiih  the  old  Mari^^n,  but: city.  The  hou.se  of  this  company,  bui!t_  m 
in  1841  the  company  was  divided,  and  the:lSo4-.5,  just  north  of  Washington  on  New 
Indej^ndent  Eelief' Company  was  formed i  Jersey  street,  is  now  occupied  by  the  hcKjtc 
and  took  the  Goo<i  Intent.  After  the  burn-| and  ladder  company.  The  company  waii 
ing  of  the  Marion  house  on  the  circle,  a  large,  prompt  and  etfective,  and  dunng  us 
brick  house  was  built  in  185-5-6,  at  the  cor-j existence  made  several  trips  to  other  cities, 
ner  of  Mas.sachusotts  avenue  and  New  York)  After  the  new  engine  was  bought  the  \  ic- 


32 


LOGA^■'S  HISTOEY  OF 


tor}-  was  used  by  a  company  of  boy.=.  After  rctary  and  messenger  for  ordinary  lir.sines:^, 
the  fir-t  paid  department  Mas  orjanized,  and  its  chief  and  assistant  ensfine  directors, 
the  Invincible  company  was  re-organized  as  pipemen,  hosenien  and  brakemen  for  serv- 
a  I'art  of  it,  and  the  ConqinTor  continued  in  ice.  The  corporate  authorities  exercised 
use  till  the  summer  of  IS'.O,  when  the  com-  little  control  over  the  firemen  until  alter  the 
puny  was  tinally  disbanded,  and  the  engine  city  charter  in  1S47,  and  not  nnicli  tlien  till 
sold  sliortly  at'ter  to  the  town  <jf  Ft.  Wayne.  ilSoo,  when  the  oiiice  of  chief  lire  tnudneer 

Tlie  Union  Company,  No.  5,  was  orsran-iwas  created  and  rules  prescribed  f<jr  the 
ized  in  1S55,  and  a  house  built  on  South  government  of  the  department.  Joseph 
street  for  it  in  1S56,  and  in  April  of  that  I.ittle  was  chosen  first  cliief  May  Gth,  I800. 
year  the  "'  Spirit  of  7  tS:  C>,"  a  .JelVers  hand-;His  successors  since  that  date  have  been  Ja- 
brake  engine  was  bons^ht  and  used  by  the'cob  B.  Fitler,  elected  ISo-i;  Chas.W.  Purcell, 
company  till  Novcmt)er,  1S59,  when  the'lSo5;  Andrew  ^Vallac■e,  18ot> ;  Josejih  W. 
company  was  di-bandcd  and  surrender'^d^its' Davis,  1503;  John  E.  Foudray,  ISoM;  and 
ajiparatus  to  the  city.  Some  efCjrt  was  af-'Under  the  paid  department,  Joseph  W.  Da- 
terward  made  to  re-organize  the  companylvis,  lSo9  ;  Charles  Kichmann.  Ls'Go  ;  Geo. 
under  the  paid  department,  but  without  suc-iW.  Buchanan,  1S67  ;  Charles  Kichmann, 
cess.     The  engine  was  sold  at  S6<}0  in  Octo-'^Iay,  1S68. 

ber,  1S60,  as  part  pay  for  the  steam  eaijine:  The  volunteer  system  worked  well  till 
No.  3,  which  was  subsequently  statione<l  in[lSo7.  The  rivalry  between  the  companies 
the  Union  house.  !produce<i  good  results;  but  the  orgar.ization 

The  Rover  Fire  Company  was  formed  in  of  the  tire  assr>ciation  in  L's-ifi.  wbil»' rpivi.^r. 
tlie  tliliii  and  loartii  wards  in  3iarch,  L"<58.iing  the  department  more  i-flicient,  also  made 
A  house  wa.s  secured  for  them,  one  of  the' it  a  political  machine  and  increased  the  de- 
oM  engii-.es  assigned  to  them,  anil  steps  tak-imands  on  the  treasury.  Contiicts  and  jeal- 
en  to  purchase  an  engine,  but  before  any-jousies  gradually  arose  Ix'tween  the  compa- 
thing  was  done  the  approaching  change  of;  nies,  and  on  the  choice  of  J.  W.  Davis  as 
system  became  evident,  and  the  companyjchief  engineer  in  May,  I808,  disputes  arose 
was  disbanded  in  June,  1S59,  and  the  house!as  to  the  fairness  of  his  election  and  man- 
sold  in  1800.  Hose  companies  were  simul-iagement.  The  dis,sen-ion  imjiaired  the  efli- 
taneously  formed  for  each  of  the  foregoing  ciency  of  the  orsranization,  and  the  trouble 
fire  companies,  and  the  necessary  hose,! was  not  entirely  healed  the  next  year  tmder 
reels  and  other  apj.aratus  furnished  to  tr.em.jFoudniy.     It  broke  out  afresh  in  August, 

A  hook  and  ladder  company  was  formedil8o9,  on  the  proposition  to  substitute  a  paid 
in  1813,  a.-  a  part  of  the  old  volunteer  de-idepartment,  which  was  earnestly  advoc-aled 
partuient,  and  the  necessary  wagon,  ladders,  I  by  Davis.  The  Invincibles  disbanded  in 
ro{)es,  hooks,  axes  and  buckets  procured.! August,  ISi'Q,  tiie  Marions  and  Westerns  in 
The  company  continued  its  organization  till; October,  the  Eelief,  ]i(;ver  and  Union  in 
disbanded  with  the  rest  of  the  department | November,  and  the  city  was  lel"t  for  a  short 
November  14th,  18-59,  but  was  re-organized! time  without  a  tire  organization.  The  Mar- 
as  a  part  of  the  paid  department,  and  still  dons  re-entered  the  service  in  November, 
continue^!  in  service,  occupying  the  old  In-'but  finally  disbanded  in  February,  IStJO. 
vincible  house  on  North  New  Jersey  street. jThe  volunteer  department  in  the  spring  of 

Tiie  Young  America  Hook  and  'Ladder!  18-59  included  six  engine  and  six  hose  coni- 
Comjiany  was  fornK;d  in  ]*day,  1858,  and 'panics,  with  ab<3Ut  fcnn- hundred  and  eighty 
got  their  wagon  and  apparatus  in  June,  re-! men;  two  hook  and  ladder  companies,  with 
maining  in  service  till  disbanded  in  Novem-Uibout  one  hundred  men  :  one  chief  and  two 
ber,  18-59.  In  December,  1849,  a  number ia.ssistant  engineers;  seven  houses,  and  ai)OUt 
of  bovs  formed  the  "O  K  Bucket  Company,"! seven  thous;ind  feet  of  hose, 
and  procured  a  wag(m  and  the  old  laddersj  It  was  evident  that  a  change  wouild  have 
and  leather  fire-buckets  which  belonged  todo  be  made  in  coti-equence  of  the  di.—en-ion 
the  State  and  private  citizens,  and  to  theUrising  over  the  election  of  engineer  in  May, 
Indianapolis  Fire  Company  in  tl-.e  earliest  i  1858,  and  on  account  of  the  rapidly-inc  reas- 
organization  of  the  department.  The  coun-ling  expense  of  the  system.  Fire_  alarms 
oil  subsf-quentlv  gave  them  a  new  wa'j:onUvere  very  frequent,  and  the  companies  were 
and  buckets,  and  provided  a  house  Yorjcharged  with  their  origin.  The  council,  in 
them.  Thev  were  etfective— generally  get-i  August,  1859,  declared  it  inexpedient  to  re- 
ting  the  first  water  on  fires— until  thev  dis-'organize  the  volunteer  department.  The 
banded  in  18-54.  The  com]ianv  was  revived; fire  committee  reported.  September  4th,  in 
in  18-55,  but  dLsbanded  finallv  in  1856,  the'tavor  of  a  paid  system,  and  the  purchase  of 
bov.s  takin-  the  Victorv  formerly  used  bv!a  third-class  steam  engine,  and  scliin?  the 
the  Invincibles.  '  '  '  jold    Belief  and    Good   Intent    engine--.     A 

Underthe  volunteer  svstem  each  company!  Latta  steani  entwine  was  exhibited  here  Scp- 
was   indoi.endent,  having  its  president,  sec-jtentber  2;xl-4th  at  the  county  fair,  and  tried 


INDIANAPOLIS  FEOM   1818.  33 


atthe  Palmer  House  ci.-tcrn  before  the  com-itlie  building.  Two  -R-atohmcn  have  since 
mittee.  A  Lee  c<:  Larned  engine  was  alsoibeen  employed,  giving  the  locality  of  the 
brought  here  and  tried  October  loth  and  "fire  by  pirikinir  the  number  of  the  viard.  In 
22d,  at  the  canal.  It  wa?  determined  to  February.  1808.  a  tiro-alarm  telcrrrupli  was 
buy  one  of  the  Lee  A:  Larned  machines,  and  adopted,  and  the  wires  boxes  and  tixturc-s 
on  the  :'Oth  of  March.  ISOO,  it  was  received' completed  and  put  in  operation  bv  the  end 
and  stationed  at  the  We-tern  engine  house. |of  April,  at  a  cost  of  abuut  S'j,0<!0.* 
On  the  14ih  of  November,  1859,  the  old!  During  the  existence  of  tl'ie  first  bucket 
volunteer  depanment  was  disbanded  by  or-!fire  company  the  dejiendence  for  wn'cr  was 
dinance,  and  a  paid  department,  consisting' wholly  on  private  wells.  After  the  Marion 
of  one  steam  and  two  hand  engines,  and  a  and  Good  Intent  engines  were  buu-ht  a  few 
hook  and  ladder  company,  was  authorized, [large  public  wells  were  dug  in  the  central 
and  J.  W.  Davis  made  chief  engineer  at  a; part  of  town.  The  first  cisterns  itwo  in 
Siilar>- of  ?300.  C.  Kichmann  and  W.  Sher- nr.mlx-r,  holding  tiiree  hundred  barrels 
wood  were  made  captains  of  the  two  hand'each,)  were  built  by  the  trustee  jrovemmeni 
engine  companies,  W.  \\.  Darnell  of  tlie  in  the  spring  of  1840,  but  it  was  not  till  Oc- 
hook  and  ladder  company,  and  Frank  Gla-  tober,  18-32,  when  a  cistern  tax  was  ordered 
zier  engineer  of  the  steamer.  Some  diffi-:by  special  election,  that  any  number  of  cir- 
cuity was  experienced  informing  the  hand  terns  were  built.  iSixtcen  were  constructed 
companies  on  account  of  the  general  oppo-iby  the  close  of  1853,  and  since  that  date  fifty 
sition  to  the  chief  engineer,  but  the  force' two,  ran?ing  from  three  hundred  to  eighteen 
T.-a3  ftilly  organized  ^y  January,  l-^-O.  Thf^hundrc''  ^-arrel?,  ha->-e  >^eon  >^".i)t  in  vari'-w 
engineer  was  ordered  to  sell  the  old  and 'quarters  of  the  city,  and  though  the  supply 
surphis  apparatus.  The  Marion  endue  was'ds  still  inadei(uatc,  the  protection  is  ample 
sold  in  April,  1860,  to  Peru  ;  the  Union  in'atrainst  all  ordinary  fires.  In  the  spring  of 
October  to  the  Seneca  Falls  Company  ;  the;  1808  SGOO  were  appropriated  to  bore  an  ar- 
Conqueror  in  February,  1861,  and  the  re- tesian  well  to  test  the  project  for  supplying 
manider  since  that  period,  the  la.-t  one  be- cisterns  from  underneath  the  surthce. '  At 
ing  .sold  within  the  last  year.  iprcscnt  they  are  filled  from  wells,  and  the 

In  August,  1S60,  a  ihird-clas?  Latta  en-' creek  and  canal  by  the  endnes.  or  bv  a 
gine  was  bought,  arriving  here  in  October, | steam  j^ump,  built  for  the  purpose  in  1S04, 
and  was  st  itioned  at  the  old  Marii.m  house.'at  a  cost  of  about  61,000. 
A  Seneca  Falls  engine  was  exiiibiteii  at  the!  Though  so  largely  built  of  wood,  this 
State  fair,  and  tried  October  22d  before  a  I  city  has  been  remarkably  fortunate  in  re- 
committee  of  the  council  in  competition  gard  to  fires.  The  streets  are  so  wide,  and 
with  the  other  engines,  the  result  being  that  the  department  has  been  so  prompt,  that 
the  council  purchased  it  at  So. oO'.>.  dving  fires  rarely  go  beyond  the  houses  in  which 
the  old  Union  at  S600  in  part  pay,  and  sta-  they  originate.  As  the  present  buildings 
tioncd  it  at  the  Union  house  on  South  street. 'are  replaced  by  brick,  stone  or  iron  struc- 
Frank  Glazier  was  appointed  engineer  of  tures,  with  fire-proof  walls  and  roofs,  the 
the  No.  1,  Charles  Curtis  of  the  No.  2,  and  immunity  from  destructive  conflagrations 
Daniel  Glazier  of  the  No.  3.  Hosemen  and 'will  be  still  greater.  The  o^dinar^- rates  of 
pipemen  were  also  appointed,  and  but  few  insurance  are  too  hi2:h  for  this  city,  and  our 
chanrjes  have  since  been  made  in  the  force.! people  are  now  iielpinsj  to  insure  property 
After  seven  years' trial  of  the  three  en^rines,,  in  cities  like  Chicagti,  where  more  loss  Ls 
the  council  in  1867  purchased  an  additional  frec[nent!y  suffered  in  a  single  fire  than  oc- 
Seneca  Falls  machine,  No.  4,  which  was  re- 'curs  here  in  a  year. 

ceived  and  put  in  service  in  December,  andj  The  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was  char- 
the  No.  3  sent  back  for  repairs.  These  tered  in  February,  1835,  Jas.  Blake,  Larkin 
vere  completed  and  the  engine  renimed  in'Simms,  John  Owen  and  M.  M.  Henkle,  di- 
March,  1''68,  the  whole  cost  of  the  new  rectors  ;  James  Blake,  president,  M.  M- 
engine  and  the  repairs  on  the  old  one  bein^r' Henkle,  secretary.  Premiums  were  offered 
about  SG, 50<).  Tiie  Latta  engine  was  then  April  28th  for  essays  on  specified  subjects, 
relieved  nom  service  for  repair^,  and  tliL^ and  rules  adopted  for  organizing  county  so- 
I^e  tfc  Liirned  will  be  repaired  in  its  turn,  cicties.  The  first  State  acricrdtural  c-'nvcn- 
The  department  is  now  in  an  efiicient  state. .tion  met  December  14th,  1835,  in  Ktp-'o- 
All  the  horses,  hose,  reels  and  other  appar-lsentatives'  Hall,  and  several  annual  mictniys 
atus  have  been  provided  by  the  council,  were  afterwards  held,  btit  the  entirpri-e 
For  some  years  after  the  organization  of  th.'died  in  a  few  years.  Meetings  were  li'-ld  at 
paid  department  no  central  alarm  existed. 'the  court  hoase  June  6th  aiui  2.th.toii,rm 
but  in  the  spring  of  1863  an  alarm  tower  a  county  agricultural  society  unotr  the 
and  bell  was  placed  in  the  rear  of  Glenn^"  State  Eo'ard  rules.  N.  B.  Fahmr  was  pr.-.s- 
block,  and  connected  by  wires  and  pulley-  ident,  D.  Maguirc,  secretary.  >m^'"np^ions 
with  l!"^  watchmen's  .station  on  the  tower  "of  were  made  for  premiums,  and  the  Loard  of 


34 


II16T0IIY   OF 


Justices  al>o  appi-'->).ii-iatc-.l  tlftydMlla-^.  Tlie;t]ie  LoLji-laturL-  had  given  .flOO.OOO  for 
fir.-t  lair  was  held  OeloW-r  oO-l  in  tlic  court! open ir.cr  roads,  liud  of:ou  asked  aid  to  ini- 
hoHse  yard.  One  hundred  and  eighty-four! prove  die  rivers,  and  had  chartered  many 
dolhirs  were  awarded  in  preniiiuns.  Mucli; railway-.  From  various  causes  these  e.>:- 
int crest  was  niauiio-ted.  Four  hun.Ired  penditurt-s  and  ctlbr:s  had  eti'ected  little, 
dollars  were  subscriVied  I'or  the  next  iair.j\Vith  iiicrcasing  resources  the  demand  for 
Annual  fairs  were  held  by  the  society  for*  greater  facilities  increased.  The  2\ational 
two  or  three  years.  Iroad  gave  an  impetus  to  other  projects  of 

In  the  fall  the  papers  said  much  im- more  doubtful  utility.  A  pressure  from  all 
proveracnt  was  goim;  on.  Property  had  i  sides  was  brought  to  bear  on  the  Assembly, 
doubled  in  value  in  two  years,  and  liu.-ine-s  aiid  on  the  2t'th  of  .J:^nuary,  1S3C>.  tb.e  in- 
lois  on  "Wasiiington  street  were  seUing  atiticrnal  im'n'ovemcnt  bill  was  parsed.  The 
fiftv,  sixtv-two  and  seventy -live  dollars  peri  State  not  oidy  undertook  several  great 
fiMui  fiX't".  [works,  hut  extended  aid  to  others  under  pri- 

The  BonevolcJit  Society  was  formed  Xo-|vate  companies.  The  act  wa.s  greeted  with 
vember,  ISoo,  with  a  president,  secretary,! rejoicing.  Bonfires  and  illuminations 
treasurer,  depository  and  visitors,  and  has  [marked  the  spread  of  the  new*.  Our  citi— 
been  active  and  efficient  to  the  present  date,  zens  were  especially  elated,  for  several  of 
Its  system  has  always  been  the  same,  and  the  works  terminated  or  crossed  at  this 
prevents  street  begging.  Funds  and  cloth-i  point,  and  more  than  one  otitlet  would  ex- 
ing  are  collected  in  specined  districts  in  the  ist  to  the  world.     A  general  illumination 


fall  by  visitors,  who  dt-po4t  the  same  with 
tlie  orticers,  and  who  ai^u  a,-M.L-iiuui  >w.d  re- 
port all  cases  needing  aid.  Written  orders 
for  money,  clothes  or  provisions  are  given 
to  applicants,  and   transient  cases   are  cared 


took  place  here  on  the  night  of  Januarv 
inth,  c;fLcr  the  ^-a^-^e  ^f  the  bill  nid  ])e- 
come  a  certainty.  The  bill  at  once  im- 
proved tlie  prosp.ects  of  the  town.  Property 
rose  in  p/rice  rapidly,  new  houses  were  built, 


for  'by  a  special  committee.  The  society  the  settled  limits  extended  westward,  me- 
has  been  snstaineil  by  private  contributions,  chanics  were  Inisy,  merchants^  sold  large 
the  city  and  town-hip  authorities  fumi-hingjstocks,  money  was  plenty,  and  cvcr^•  one 
wood  onlv  when  needed.  Mr.  James  Blakej  prosperous.  Tliis  continued  nearly  three 
has  beon'thc  pre-ident  for  many  years,  and lyears,  when  ftmds  gave  out,  pitbliy  works 
much  of  the  good  effected  by  tlie  enterprizeistopped,  trade  ceased,  property  declined,  la- 
ha-:  been  due  to  his  zeal  anil  energy.  |borers    vrent    elsewhere,    and    ruin _  stared 

Tb.e  Young  Men's  Literary  ScJcie'.y.  de-ievery  one  in  the  face.  The  hard  times  of 
signed  for  debate,  compositioii  and  generalilS39— 12  were  sorely  felt.  The  leading  bus- 
mental  improvement,  was  formed  in  l>>35,iiness  men  were  most  involved,  and  for  years 
and  continued  its  meetings  for  twelve  or  fif-;  their  lives  were  struggles  to  save  something 
teen  years.  It  was  incorporated  in  April,] from  the  wreck.  The  forbearance  of  cred- 
18-17'  under  the  general  law,  collected  ajitors  alone  saved  them  from  ut:er  poverty, 
considerable  librarv,  and  from  1 843  to  lS48|The  bankrupt  act  of  1S41  atTordc-vl  relief  to 
gave  each  winter  a  series  of  lectures  by  itsj the  whole  country,  easing  the  general  dis- 
member-, and  others  from  abroad.  It  was  tress,  and  enabling  many  to  get  another 
the  succe^-or  here  of  the  Indianapolis  Ath-!start.  From  this  time  till  1847  ihe_  town 
eneum,  and  the  precur.-or  of  the  1-cture  so-iremained  a  dull  countrv'  village,  with_  so 
cieties'ofthe  pre^^ent  d;.v.  junfavorable  an  experience  of  internal  im- 

The  winter  of  1S34-0  had  been  cold  and'provements  that  our  capitalists  .-ub-equently 
protracted.  The  spring  was  backv,-ard.  I  kept  out  of  them  or  aided  them  but  Uttle. 
More  rain  fell  in  Mav  and  June  than  ini  Under  the  interiial  improvement  system 
anv  season  before  for  ten  years,  and  at  Fort;the  central  canal,  frr>m  the  ^^ab;sh  toEv- 
W'avne  ten  Indies  of  water  fell  lii  two  hours, iansvllle,  together  with  several  railroads  Irom 
the"«torm  bein-  limited  to  a  small  space.! various  points,  had  been  intended  to  centre 
This  statement  was  made  by  Jes^e  L.  Wil-lhere.  All  were  abandoned  in  lboV\  after 
Hams  State  eivdneer  on  the  Vv'aba.-h  canal.! much  work  had  been  done.  The  :\Iadisoii 
There  was  a  hard  fro^t  on  the  morning  ofj  railroad  had  been  completed  nearly  to  \  er- 
Julv  l^t  followed  bv  a  hot  and  drv  season,  non  and  graded  to  Columbus.  It  was  oper- 
clo^ing  on  the  niglU  of  August  l^th  in  abated  by  the  State  tiU  1S43,  then -irrendered 
tornado  of  wind  and  rain,  unroofing  houses,:to  a  company,  and  nnallyhnislied  m  Ucto- 
de^troving  fences,  timber  and  crop-,  and  ber,  1847.  Before  competing  lines  reduced 
'      '  t-attle  and  hogs.    The  foUow-lts  tratiic  it   made  more   money  ihv.n  anv 

iroad  in  the  country.    The  State  was  cheated 
'out  of  her  interest  in  the  road,  and  the  road 

183G  The  want  of  natural  channels 'itself,  after  losing  business  and  importance, 
for  trade  had  prompted  many  improvement  was  finally  bought  and  operated  by  the  Jei- 
schemes  in  past  ye;irs,  and  at  an  early  day.Iersonville  line. 


killing  hors 

ing  winter  lasted  till  April 


IXDIANAPOI.TS  FROM  ISIS. 


The  canal  -n-a?  nearly  done  when  nban-'urer's  report  showed  Sl.BlO  receipts  for  the 
doned  ;  .^l. 000,000  hiid  been  expended,  and  year,  and  SI, 150  of  this  ?uni  had  been  ex- 
a  corapanitively  .'^.'nali  pum  w^uld  lir.ve  pended  lor  the  Marion  ensfine  and  in  di^'- 
comjdeted  it  from  X';ble-ville  to  ^I;irtins-j2in:i:  live  pul)Iic  well.-,  and  other  tire  de- 
ville.  It  wa-  be^iin  in  October,  iSoG,  v,:.rk  partraent  expense?.  A  b;danee  of  SV24  wa.s 
being  pro-cetited  Finiuhaneoiisly  alonsr  ii.s^turned  over  to  the  n-.w  •:rovennnent.'  The 
line  by  fr-ani:^  ""'f  Iri>liinen,  whose  disnnte.-'new  board  passed  ordinances  regulating 
with  spade  and  shillelah  gave  animation  to! markets,  ordering  tlie  streets  to  be  opened, 
their  enoa'npments.  A  great  debate  of  tliis  and  prohibiting  riots,  dnmkennes-,  liorse- 
ki'id  occurred  in  1S.'>S  near  town,  between  racing  and  indecent  lan^'ungc  ini  the  street.?. 
the  Corkonians  and  fardowners,  several |  The  A^ork  on  the  National  roaii  in  the 
hundred  di-putants  being  engaged,  and  the  la.=t  few  years  had  attracted  many  men  of 
discussion  occupying  tiie  crreatcr  part  of  the;bad  chamcter  and  habits  to  this  point. 
day.  The  sections  to  Noble.sville  and  Mar-jThese,  banded  togetlier  under  a  leader  of 
tinsvillc  were  nearly  ready,  and  that  to:great  size  and  strength,  were  lonu'  knov.-n  as 
Broad  Ripple  ^u-as  tinislied  late  in  Xovem-j"  the  chain  gang,"  and  kept  the  tov,-n  in  a 
ber,  1S;-^S.  and  opened  for  use  June  ^Tth.ihalf  snbjucrated  state.  A--aults  were  often 
183',),  with  an  excursion  by  boats  to  Piroadicommitted.  citizens  threatened  and  in-ulted, 
Ripple  in  July.  Considerable  nreparationsiand  potty  outrages  pcrpi.-trated,  until  at  last 
were  made  for  tratlic  on  it.  Several  freightja  meeting  was  called  March  Oih  at  th.e  court 
and  passenger  boats  were  built,  and  riour,' house  to  take  the  matter  imder  advisenient. 
timber,  grr.i:'.,  ;*:c., '^ere  b'-^iigbf- +'rArii  Pt-^.!,] I Hnrrod  Vr-ulnnd.  a  rf-volutionarv  -ioldier. 
Ripple  and  above.  The  mill  sites  hereiwas  chosen  jiresident  and  made  a  radical 
■were  leasi-d  June  11th,  1S3S,  and  one  wool-jspeech  against  the  gang.  Resolutions  were 
en,  one  coit'-.n,  two  paper,  one  oil,  trt'o  gri-tiadopted  to  aliate  the  luii-r.nce.  The  citizens 
and  two  saw-  mills  built  <iiort!y  afterward. 'resolved  to  elect  tru-tces  and  oliicers  who 
The  power  proved  less  than  was  promi=ed,j  would  see  the  ordinances  enforced,  and 
the  canal  not  having  tall  enough  to  ciu-e  aipledired  themselves  to  a-^si.-t  them.  The 
free  flow  of  water,  but  the  mills  v.^ert  tokletermined  stand  taken  sninewhat  awe<l  the 
work,  and  with  others  '=ince  built  haveigang,  and  they  became  less  bold  in  their 
greatly  benefitted  the  place.  Tiie  nuliersidemonstrations.  At  the  camp-meeting  in 
were  always  complaining  of  scant  water  and!  August  on  the  military  ground-,  the  leader 
much  moss  ;  tlie  people  grumbled  wlien  thejoiade  .-ome  disturbance  and  was  knocked 
-water  was  drawn  off  to  clean  the  bed  ;  andjdoMm  and  subjugated  by  Rev.  James  Ilav- 
the  Assembly,  wearied  by  the  inces-antjens,  the  preacher  in  char-e,  and  shortly  af- 
complaint,  January  19tli,  1S50,  ordered  theiterward  v.-as  also  sonndiy  whipped  by  Sam- 
canal  to  be  sold,  'it  was  soon  after  .■'old  to  tiel  Merrill.  These  def-.ats  broke  liL-  pres- 
persons  who  were  chartered  as  a  companyltige,  the  gang  was  demoralized,  and  most  of 


in  Februar.-,  IS-jl.  In  April  the  company 
sold  to  Gould  &  Jackson,  who  sold  in  L>cto 
ber,  1851,  to  "The  Central  Canal,  Plydrau 
lie  Waterworks  and    Manufacturing  Com- 


them  left    the  town  or  ceiled  their   lawless 
conduct. 

The  second  homiciile  here  occurr(?<l  April 
27th,  Zachariah  Collin-  being  killed  bv  Ar- 


pany."  This  companv  sold  to  another  nold  Lashly.  The  cnmty  agricultural  so- 
compnny  in  1859,  who"  now  rent  out  ihelciety  held  its  <econd  fair  -at  the  court  hou.se 
power.  "  For  years  after  the  first  sale  it  wasjOctober  7tii  and  Sth.  C.  Fletcher  deHvere<i 
regarded  as  a  nuisance,  and  propositiims  tO|an  address,  stating  that  1,300,000  bushels  of 
fill  it  up  were  seriouslv  considered  in  thejoorn  had  been  raised  this  year  on  the  thir- 
council,  both  in  1S55  and  1858,  but  having! teen  hundred  farms  in  the  county.  Luke 
lately  been  kept  in  better  order  the  opposi-'Munsell  copyrigiited  a  map  of  the  town 
tionha.s  nft?asurablv  abated.  It  was  drv  fori  May  30th,  and  Wm.  Sal!ivan  publi-hed  a 
months  in  1S47,  from  the  breaking  of  thelmap  of  the  town  in  October.  A  great  camp 
banks  and  acqtteduct,  and  in  lSoG-7  fromfmeeting  was  held  on  the  military  Erround 
the  breaking  of  the  feeder  dam  at  Broadj  August  '25-30,  under  James  Havens  and 
Rii'ple.  It  "^now  furnL-^he.s  mill  power  and  John  C.  Snath.  One  hundred  and  thirty 
transportation  for  wood  and  hisrs.  Theexperienced  religioiu  Professor  C.RBron- 
conipanv  owning  it  iatelv  sued  for  the  pos-ison  [died  in  New  York,  April,  ISGS.J  gave 
session  of  apart  of  the  militarv  park,  on  i  the  first  lecture  here  on  elocution,  Augu-st 
the  ground  that  It  passed  at  the"  sale  as  an 1 30th.  ^  fiiram  Devinnv  began  the  manuiac- 
apptirtenance  of  the  canal 


ture  of  mattrasses  cushions  and  carpets  here 


The  town  having  been  specially  incorpo-'in  October. 


rated 


February    bv   the  .Vsserabiv. 


he'  The  new  AVashington  Hall,  a  three-story 
new  board  of  trustees  "^vas  elected  under  the  brick  hotel,  built  by  a  companv  in  l"-^t)-7, 
act  in  April,  and  the  officers  of  the  old  on  the  =^ite  of  the  old  frame  \\  ashingtmi 
board  settled  to  April  1st,  1836. 


The  treas-TIall,  at  a  cost  of  S30.0'.X',  was  opened  by  E. 


36 


HISTORY  OF 


Brownin- November  16th,  and  koi>r  by  him'The  Palmer  House,  a  two-and-a-half-#torv  ' 
till  March  loth,  ISol.  Ic  was  tlKii  one  ol'ibrkk.  w;us  built  in  1840-1  by  X.  B.  Palmer, 
the  lar-ost  and  bc:^t  -we-tcrii  luno!-.  had  a'on  Washini:ton  and  Illinois*  strecU,  and 
hitrh  reputation,  and  wa.-  the  'W'hl'^  head-jopened  by  John  C.  Parker  in  the  summer 
quarters  for  its  entire  existence.  It  was, ot  1841.  "it  w:us  eidar::;ed  and  rai.-ed  to  four  ! 
damaged  by  fire  S3,0C'O  in  February,  184:>,|stories  in  18o6  by  Dr".  Barbour,  the  le^-':e.  ' 
and  came  near  burning  up.  Several  at-j Parker,  Barbour,'.!.  I).  Carmichael,  D.  Tut- 
tempts  were  made  to  burn  it  in  May  and, tie,  C.  W.  Hall,  B.  Mason,  and  (Uhers  have 
June,  184S.  It  was  sold  to  F.  Wright  in, been  its  lessees.  It  has  always  kept  the 
March,  1851,  was  subsequently  kutwn  asjsame  name,  was  for  some  time  the  leading 
the  Wright  House,  was  successively  keptjliouse,  and  has  had  a  fair  sliare  of  patnm- 
by  Henry  Aohey,  Kol)ert  Browning,  Burg-iage.  Little's  Hotel,  first  built  in  18:J4  or  o, 
ess  t^  Towulcy,  W.  J.  Elliott,  Louis  Eppin-  on  New  Jersey  and  Wasliincrtdu  streets,  by 
ger  and  others,  and  wa.^  bought  in  Marchjjohn  Little,  and  known  then  as  Little's  Sun 
and  remodeled  in  the  summer  of  18o9  by|Tavern,  i,from  the  si2:n,  a  blazir.g  sun,)  was 
the  Glenns,  and  is  now  known  as  Glenns"  originally  a  small  two-story  frame  house, 
block,  the  lower  story  being  used  as  bu.sinessi  A  fhrec-story  ell  wxs  added  by  M.  and  I. 
rooms,  and  the  upper  by  the  council,  city' Little  in  1847,  and  in  18ol  the  old  frame 
officers  and  police,  with  the  fire  tower  and,  was  moved  to  East  and  Washington  streets, 
alarm  on  the  roof.  A  very  brief  mention  land  a  three-story  brick  front  buiMing  put 
may  be  given  here  of  the  other  leading  lio-jin  its  place.  It  also  has  frequently  chansred 
tols  ''*:  v-T-!''^'!^  ,^■y^n<  in  tl,,^  K;jt,,rv  nf  tlvno-Toe'^s  'i^t  '^''^  reta'"^"]  its  old  r-inm.  The 
town  and  city.  j  Duncan  House,  a  three-story  brick,  sui>se- 

John  McCormick  was  the  first  tavern  andjquently  the   Barker   and   the   Kay   Hou.-e, 
boarding-house    keeper,    beginninij    in    the, was  built  in  1847   on  South  and,  Delav/are 
spring  of  18'20  on  tlie  river  hank,  in  a  little|strects,  by   K.  B.  Duncan.     It   did  a  g(X)d 
cabin  with  small  pens  around  it  as  sleeping|busines,s  for  some  years,  but  iuis  long  been 
apartments  for  his  guests.     In  1821  Hawk-| mostly  devoted  to  boarders.     I>.  .J.  Barker, 
ins,  Carter  and  Nowland  each  opened ''tav-jM.  M.  Kay  and   others  have  been  lessees. 
erns," — Xowland  in  a  cabin  on  WaslsingtoniThe   Carlisle  Hou-e,   a  three-story   frame, 
street  west  of  the  canaL     He  shortly  after  built  by  Dan  Carlisle  in  184S,  on  Washing- 
died,   and  his  widow,  Elizabeth  Nowland.lton  street,  west  of  the  canal,  has  so  often 
in    1823    opened    a   boarding-house   where |chantred  names  and  Iessee.s  that   they  are 
Browning's  drug  ^tore  is  now,  continuing! unknown.     From  its  position  it  never  did 
there  for  many  years.     Carter's  '' Kosebush|as  good  a  business  as  other  hou.-es,  and   is 
Tavern,"  a  two-story  ceiled  frame,  eishteeninow  used  as  a  brewery.     The  Morris  House, 
by  twenty  feet,  built  in  1821-2,  at  40  West. a   two-and-a-half-story  brick,   su^'setiuentiy 
Wiishington  street,  was  occupied  by  him  till'much   enlarged  and  raised  to  four  stories, 
182.3.     It  was  afterward  moved  mar  the  ca-'and  known  as  the  "American."   "Mason," 
nal,  and  then  near  the  soldiers'  home,  wherejand   '•Sherman  House,"  was  built  by  Th'jS. 
it  yet  stands.     Carter  in  1823  built  a  two-  A.  Morris  in  1852-3,   north  of  the  Union 
story  frame  tavern  opjMX-ite  the  court  house,  depot,  and   has  done  a  good  business.     It 
Avhich   was    burned    in    1825.       Hawkins'ihas  often  changed  its  lessees.     The  Bates 
"  Eagle  Tavern,"    a  double  log  hou.-e,  wasi  House,  a  four-story  brick,   which    has  re- 
built in  the  fall  of  1821,  where  the  .S'^^u/i/u.^jtained  its  name  though  often  chanaring  les- 
ofiice  is  now,  the  lo.^s  being  cut  irMii  the  lotjsees,  was  built  on  the  corner  of  Wasliingion 
and  street.     It  stood  there  till   1826  or  7, land   Illinois  streets  in  1852-3,  by  Harvey 
when  it  was  rejilaced  with  a  small  two-story  {Bates,  and  has  since  been   much  enlarged, 
brick.     Bazel  J!rown  took   it  in  1829,  anil. being  the  largest  and  leading  hotel  of  the 
was  succeeded   by   John  Hare.  Jc.hn   Cainicity,  and   doing  perhaps  the  lieaviest   basi- 
and  others.     It  w-;ls  torn  down  in  1>49  andine.ss.     The  Oriental,  a  four-stor\-  brick  buijt 
replaced   bv   the  Capital  House,  winch  was'in  1856-7,  and  opened  in  Juno  by  Francis 
opened  by"  John  Cain  July  14th,  1.550,  andiCostigan,  has  retained  its  name  tiinnzh  often 
snb^equentlv  succeedeil  bvD.  D.  Sl'jan  andjchanging  lessees,  and  has  done  a  fair  busi- 
others,  till  "March,  1857,  when  it  was  occu-;ness.     The  Tremont,  afterward  the  Spencer 
pied  by  the   Saidnel   as    a   printing  office., Iloa-e,  a  four-storv- brick,  wxs  built  on  the 
It  has  since  been  used  a.s  a  printing  ofiice'corner  of  Louisiana  and  Illinois  streets,  near 
and  bindery,  and  for  business  r.jom.-  and  of-  the  Union  depot,  in  1857,  and  ha.s  done  a 
fices.    It  w'as  the  first  four-storv-  house  built'gocKl  business  under  J.  W.  Canan  and  oth- 
here.     The   succe.-^sive    hotels  "on   this   .siteiers,    its    le.<,-ees.      The    Farmers',    now  the 
were  the  Democratic  headquarters;    and  it|Comrnercial   Hotel,   wa.s  built  m   l^o6   bv 
was  at  the  Capital  House,  as  the  most  styl-;Henrv-  Buehig,  as  a  three-story   brick   and 
ish  in  the  citv,   that   Kos<uth  was   lodgedjenlarged  and  raised  to  four  stones  by  t .  A. 
durin'^   his  visit  here  in   Februarv,  1852.iReitz  in  1864.    It  had  often  changed  lessees. 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


The  Macy  Ilou-e.  a  thrce->tory  brick,  was: uf  the  company.  The  risks  a.^umccl  durin? 
built  by  David  >[:icy,  on  Illinois  and  Mar- the  tirst  year' amounted  to  SloG.UOt) ;  its 
ket  streets,  in  IS-j",  and  has  since  been  oc-'present  risks  to  So.l4t5,000 ;  cash  and  prc- 
cupicd  mostly  by  boarders.  A  lar^je  num-imiura  notes  on  hand  in  April,  ISGS,  $284,- 
ber  of  otlier_  less  important  houses  exist,  -187;  losses  in  last  year,  clO,G06  ;  no  uuad- 
mostly  built  in  the  la.-t  ten  years,  but  wantijusted  liabilities. 

of  spice  forbids  further  mention  of  them.  |  The  Indiana  Fire  Insurance  Companv— 
The  Indianapolis  Insurance  Company  was  a  mutual  companv  — wxs  or-anizcd  Mav 
charteredtor  luty  years  lebruary  stii,  ls36,,.ith^  1S62,  under  the  <jeneral  lav.- of  ks.rj 
with  a  capitalot  ^200,UUO.  in  filty  dollarj-m,!  the  otSce  has  since  been  located  in  Odd 
shares,  and  with  very  tavorable  banking!  peHows  Hal!.  Jonathan  S.  Hurvev  wa.^ 
pnviU-cs.  It  was  organized  March  Itithiehosen  president,  and  W.  T.  Gib.on, 'secre- 
vsith  nine  director^.  D.  Maguire  being  pres-Jtarv,  at  the  time  of  tlie  organization,  and 
ident  and  C.  r^cudder,  secretary,  and  began  h^ve  served  till  the  present  time.  The 
operations  m  April.  It  did  a  lunued  busi-j^mount  of  risks  as.sumed  bv  the  company 
ness  for  many  years,  but  finally  suspended, during  the  first  fiscal  vear  was  about  JGOO,'- 
operations  in  ISoy  or  'GO.     In  18Go  the  oldi(,oo,  and   the  amount' now  incurred   is  bc- 


stock  was  purchased  and  a  new  company 
organized,  with  Wm.  Henderson  as  presi- 
dent and   A.  C.   Jameson,   secretarv.     Tiu 


tween  eight  and  nine  millions. 

The  .Sinni>sippi  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 

,      ,  4    1   T>  k      .->n  1     ic(--  iP^nv  was  organized  November  ISth,  18G3, 

charter  was  amended  December -'Oih,  ISbo,',    y      .i         "        ,  ,  .^,     t-,..  ,    ,,      ,' 

^,  •.  1  *     --,A,„u-iu         .      '.under  the  ecneral  law.  with  hiiiah  Ooofl- 

increasing  the  capual  to  ^•JUO,(J<_MJ  hv  vote  oil,..;  •  r    4.     t  i       t>     t> 

,,       ^     I?    11  .         ,  »,      -  win    nrf^'-:Kipnt,   .lolm   K.    liCrrv.  secretarv. 

the  stocktiolders,  and  making  the  companvi„j'    '      .        ^   .  .  .•,,    .-.,,r,      v* 

,      HM       1  i  r)         I    Ti     1    I    Ml-  ■  ''^i^fi  continued  its  operations  till   l&Ob.     It 
perpetual.      Ihe  old  Branrh  Lank   ouildiiitr'     -       ..      ,       ,       •     f     j- i      i  u     ■ 

'     ^  ,         ,   ..        ,      ^   --OA  ,„,A   -         ^jinavertised  exten^iveiv,  did  a  large  business, 

was  ])urchasel  tor  about  >--.(>,U()U  irom  tliei,-    ,,       i     •  i      /  *-  j  i 

o-   1  •       7^      1     •      4      -1    I    ,^-         1  ^1        r-  incurred  risks  (manv  ot  danirerous  charac- 
binkuiij  r  und,  in  A]>ril,  Ifto/,  and  the  ot-i  ^         -  -    ■     - 


teri   to  the  amount  of  millions  of  dollars, 

and 


fice  has  since  been  hx^ated  there.     It  is  nowi      -i  i       i     •  i  ■    • 

,   .  .  J  1      1  •       paid    cood  salaries   anil  comnussions 

doin<?  a  prosTierous  insurance  and  banking;:-  ■    ,    ,  i    i      „         <, 

,      .'^       ^     .'        !      1  •   1  11       '^1  incurred  heavy  exiK'Uscs  and   losses.     As- 

business,  and   ranks  high  among  the  Homei  ^^^^^^^,,^^^  were  rapi^dlv  made  on  the  premi- 
enterprises  ot  the  city.  I         ^  ^^j  ^j^^  co.npanv  broke  in  18GG, 


The 
started 


other    insurance 
mav   be    brlellv 


companies 
mentioned 


receiver  s 


hand 


and  its  af- 

Ihe  othoe 

East  Market 


here   ^'^'■'"^^'  n 
™,      T    !•     -     AT   .     I   T-      1  r.       ■  tairs  are  now  being  closed  up 

Ihc  Indiana  Mutual  1- ire  Insurance  Lorn-    e   .-,       „„„ J'^^   „»    .3:  ^ 

,      ,       ,1  ,-,,,  ,      ,00-   ot   the   companv  was  at  o-: 

pany   was   chartered   .January'   oUth,    18.3/,;^.       .  '■ 

and  amendments  made  to  the  act  at  severali''    „,'„.,,„.       ^  ^ 

subsequent  dates.  It  was  or-anized  in  Feb-I  The  Equitable  I  ire  Insurance  Company 
ruarv  with  James  Blake.,  president,  Charles ^^'^^  organized  on  the  mutual  plan  in  ^ep- 
W.  Cadv,  secretarv,  and  be-an  busines.s  inif*5"\^er,  18G,\  under  the  general  law,  ^^ .  A. 
starch  in  an  office  opposite  the  Washington  il'^'i^^^  president,  ED  Ul.n.  .-.cretary.  and 
Hall.  It  was  prosperous  and  did  a  goodi'^^^  ^^^^  '-'P^'^e'l  in  Odd  lellows  ILall.  The 
business  for  two  or  three  vears,  but  from  in-|company  was  authorized  by  law  m  1,m,o  to 
hprent  defects  in  the  plan,  heavv  losses  and^^.l^^ipge  the  character  01  us  bu^me^ssub^tan- 
m'ismana^cmcnt,  became  involved,  insolv-iti^lly  to  the  stock  system,^  di.i.ensing  with 
ent,  and  tinallv  suspended  operations  aboutlP'^tmium  notes  and  receiving  premiums  in 
fifteen  veir^  ""o  cash.     Its  operations  were  liiaued   mostly 

The 'In.liana"  Fire   Insurance   Companv  to  the  centre  and  north  of  the  State,  but  its 

wa-s  chartered  in  Februar^',  ISol,  ,vith  ajV^^Pf^-^^*^  ^^"'i  1«^^^V''''"^, *-■''' '"'i^''?''7 
nominal  capital  of  $300,0o0,  and  was  organ-  l^  January  or  Februarv,  1m,5,  and   its  al- 

ized  May  1st,  1851, ■ be-^^^\^-^  ^^e  bein^ adjusted  by  a  receiver.     Ihe 

ing  president, sccreta-  o^^'^  ^^''^'■^  '^  Odd  lellows  Hail. 

ry.  It  did  a  limited  business,  and  sus-l  The  Home  Mutual  Insurance  Company 
pended  operations  after  a  few  yeai-s.  |wa.s  orcranized    in  April,   18G4.   umkr   the 

The  (ierman  Mutual  Fire  Insurance' seneral  law,  with  J.  C.  Geiscndort}',  presi- 
Companv  wa>  organized  under  the  general; dent,  J.  B.  Follett,  secretary.  Its  bu.-mcss 
law  January  21st','l8o4,  and  has  successfullyjwas  conducted  substantially  on  the  same 
conducted  its  business  to  the  present  date.! plan  as  that  of  the  Equitable  Company,  but 
Its  offic-e  wa-s  first  located  at  81  Ea.st  \Vash-jwas  mostly  coniined  to  risks  in  the  city  and 
in^ton  street,  removed  in  1859  to  Judah's: vicinity.  Not  being  very  remunerative, 
block,  and  in  March,  18GG.  to  IG  South  Del- [and  some  losses  having  occurred,  the  coiii- 
aware  street.  Henry  Busher,  Julius  Boet-jpany  voluntarily  suspended  operations  in 
ticher  and  A.  .^eidensticker  have  been  tlie,June,  18GS,  and  its  business  is  beui^  closed 
pre^^idents,  and  A.  Seiden.-,ticker,  Valentine  bv  a  receiver  appointed  by  the  court  ihe 
Butsch,  Charles  Yolmar,  Charle.^  Balke,!office  was  most  of  the  time  at  G4  L:ist  \\  asli- 
Adolph  Miller  and  F.  Eitzinger  secretaries jiugton  street. 


38  HISTORY  OF 


The  rarnuri'  a:id  >Lrc:uu-it.s'  In>urunco  in  1S5S-9  erected  a  four-story  brick  build- 
Company  was  orffanized  on  the  same  jrener-  ing  on  Xorth  Pennsylvania  street  as  an  oi- 
al  j)lan  and  under  the  same  law  as  tlie  two  tlce  and  (or  bu-iness  purposes, 
foregoing  comjianies,  on   tlie   1st   of  Ai>ril, 

18GI,  witli  Evland  T.  Br  )wn  as  provident.!  lSo7.  At  a  mcetin;:  held  February  li'id 
and  A.  J.  Davis,  secretarv,  and  the  officeiit  ^'''a-?  decermmed  by  the  young  men  to  form 
located  in  Blackford's  block.  It  eontinuedU>-  niilitary  company,  and  at  subseqr.ent 
its  operations,  doing  a  m.,.lei-ate  liusiness  in  meetings  a  con.-titution,  by-laws  and  \;ni- 
the  central  portion  of  the  State,  till  the  sum-:toi-ni  were  adopted,  members  enrolled,  and 
mer  of  18G7,  when  it  suspended,  and  its  af-i'^^cei--^  elected,  Alexander  W.  Kus^ell  bemg 
fairs  are  now  in  process  of  settlement.  j  captain,  and  serving  till  Atigust.  1838.  when 

m.     T  •       T  I'  „„   Ihomas  A.  Morris  suc'L-eded  and  command- 

The   Lmon  Insurance  Com])anv  was  or-i    ,    .  ,.  ,.  ,      ,,., 

,        ,,  ,      >  I      .r  1  ed  the  companv  tor  vears  afterward,      ihe 

gamzed  on  the  srock  iilan  luider  the  general      ..  ^     -        •  "i    i  .     i        i     .  .■    • 

■r        .     .,  .         .-lo,.-       -.I  %  1  ,,  uniform  was  srav  wuli  black  velvet  lacine-, 

law,  in  the  sprinfr  ot  iMto,  witli  a  capual  of;       ,    ,   ,,    i     '.i    '  -.i  i 

.-..wvA  A,-,.>     T  Af    t.        1    •  -I     ..and    tall    leather   caps  with   pompons  and 

biOO.OuO,   .James  M.  Plav  being  pre-idcnt,',  .  „,,'  ^       '  , 

1    T-»    \\-    /•     11  ■   •  'Ti      ^a-   '  orass  mountings,     ihe  connianv  was  ar.med 

and   D.    V> .  CTruhiH,   secretarv.     Ihe  oftice,    .  ,  ,    ,  "^     i  j  -n    i  i     c"   .  • 

,.    ,  1   .    vp  ,,    ,,   .-  ^.      ■    ]    M  1    with  muskets  and  drilled  bv  f?cott  s  lactics. 

was  hrst  o])ene<l  in  lalbott  i\:  jsews  build-,.  ,i     t     ,  •     .•     '•    ,i     c,  t^    „, 

,.    '      ,        •      ,       .   1    ,  J  :    lit  was  the  best  ori.'ani/.ation  in  ttie  .btate,  at- 

mc  on  IVunsvlvauia  street,  but  removed  in-  ,  ,        ...  j         „) 

-lo  -  .     T>     "i     »    1     -1  1-  T    T>   -\i     t-     itracted   niucii   admiration   on  parade,   and 


were 


-lo  -  .     T>     "i     »    1     -1  1-  T    T>   -\i     t-     itractect   niucii   admiration   on  parau 

ISo/  to  I)unlops  huudi.uu-.     J'..  B.  31artin-'      .       ,     ■,,  loi-      ti     *;/•       i      ■     ' 
J  ,  1,1  •)  1  r-  -I IT   existed  till  lb4o.     llie     Oravbacks 

dale  was  elected  president,  and  (.reorge  W  .Li      n    ..    •    i  i     ..  '  ^    „ 

-r.  ^  rp,  ;^        1  the  first   independent   companv,   and   uere 

Dunn,  secretarv.      ihe  ccimpanv  continued  •  u     •  *  j   c-.i   ',,".' i,i,    i,;"3 

.^         -  ,    '        -1111  -u    I      -1    Iheir  fine  discipline  and  .soldierlv  bearing 

nicetintr  with  considerable  ln-<es,  till  April.  ]  .i      i  i  ,  .   :r.    '- 4--^i;„  , 

,,..,■,        ■  1  ,        •      1         ,        -^    .-aroused  tlie  lonir  dormant  muitarv  leelm;:, 

lSo8,  V,  hen  It  was  deteriiu.ied  to  cio.=e  ITS  at-l      ■,      ,  '    •      ,,  -    .    i  ^  ..,1,.  ;-tanv,-.,r.  i 

,..',,.,,,  1.       •  1    i;ind  other  companies  \\(.Te  sliortl\  aUerv.  anJ 

tairs  and  dissolve  the  companv.     its  nsks' ,  i   •      1    '.  j     •  ■    •*"        t>     ,  : 

,.      ,  .  1    ••    ,1       Ti  formed  in  the  tov,-n  and  vicinitv.      Bromi- 

were  accordmg  y  re-insnred   ,n  the  Homd  ^^^^^   ^  ^^^^^_^  ^^.^^,^  ^1^^    "Ar.bs,"    or 

lire  Insurance  Lompany  o   Xesv  \orK,  andi^^^^^^j^^^  Kitk-men.  under  Captain  Tom.  Mc- 
the  L  nion  Company  discontuiue<i.  j  p^^,_.^^^  uniformed  in  frin^W  huntin.^  shirts. 

The  American  IIor<e  In-^urance  Com-|„tj^i  armed  whli  Ijreccli-loading  riries.  In 
pany,  (for  securiiy  against  lo-s  by  death,!  .^U2:ast,  IS-i'J,  the  independent  companies 
&C.,  of  horses  and  other  animals,!  was  or-l J-,. j.j^^^,^  a  battalion  and  elected  itervev 
ganized  under  the  general  law  in  Augu-'t,'j;j-^,^^n  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Georire  ^V. 
18(.'-3,  with  a  nominal  CL.pital  of  §100,000,1  p^m^^^  ;>^Xajor.  Frequent  parades  and  sev- 
Thomas  B.  McCivrty  being  elected  presi-l^j.^j  g^cam [Clients  were  held  by  the  compa- 
dent,  J.  F.  Payne,  secretary,  and  has  con-|„j,,^^  ^^^i  ijie  niilltarv  feeling  was  active  till 
linued  its  business  to  the  present  date,  at  ^^^^j.  (j^^  ^[^^  „f  i\^q  Mexican  war.     Three 


companies  of  volunteers  were  raised   li 
during    that   war,    under    Captains    J.    P. 
Drake,   E.   Lander  and  John  McDougail. 


the  oftice  in  V'inton'.s  block  on  Pennsylvania 
street. 

The  Franklin  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Company  was  organized  under  the  general' For  two  or  three  years  after  that  war  no  or- 
law  in  July,  lSb*5,  James  M.  Kay  beingig-anization  existed.  In^  18o2  the  Citv 
elected  pre-^ident,  and  D.  W.  firiilibs,  secre-i»,Tuards  were  formed  under  command  of 
tary,  (since  succeeded  by  E.  P.  llowe.i  and  (Governor  Vv'aUace,  and  in  May,  1853.  the 
ha.s  been  very  succe.ssf  1!,  as  all  life  cmipa-! Mechanic  Bitles,  but  neither  of  these  lived 
nies  are  that  are  carefully  manacred.    It  has, long. 

done  a  good  business  and  met  with  few  lo=s-!  fjie  Saint  Louis  National  Guards  pa.^sed 
es,  standing  well  among  iuch  entL-rpri-e-.  ji,j.(,„n-h  here  in  Februarv,  I800,  and  the  ef- 
The  office  was  first  opened  at  19  Xorth  Mc-if^,|-.t  produced  was  such  that  a  similar  ortran- 
ridian  street,  but  in  April,  1808,  the  cfiai-  jj^j^-irm  ^vas  efibcted  here  on  the  12th  of 
pany  purchased  the  old  Slate  Bank  hidld-i^^im-cji^  Xhe  National  Guards  were  uni- 
ing,  at  the  corner  of  Illinois  street  and  Ken-,f,jj.med  in  blue,  with  caps  and  white  plumes, 
tucky  avenue,  and  removed  to  that  point. iji^d  were  succe-sivelv  under  the  command 

Be^lde  the  foregring  home  organizations  ^  of  W.  J.  Elliott,  Th('mas  A.Morris.  George 
agencies,  general  and  special,  exist  here  for  F.  Mc(Tinnis,  Irvrin  Harri.son,  J.  M.  Lord, 
forty  or  fifty  foreign  life,  accident  and  fire  and  \V.  P.  Noble.  AViien  the  war  occurred 
insurance  "companic-s.  Most  prominent, the  company  entered  the  eleventh  re;.'iment 
amon?  these  is  the  .Etna,  of  Hartford,  and  clo.-ed  its  existence  with  the  end  of  the 
which,  under  William  Henderson  and  A.' war.  An  unsuccessful  eflbrt  was  afterward 
Abromet  as  agents,  has  done  a  very  lucra-' made  to  revive  it.  It  was  a  well-drilled 
five  business  at  this  point,  its  net  recei^.tsand  officered  organization,  held  frcpient 
here  during  the  continuance  of  the  agencv,' parades  and  a  number  of  encampments,  and 
in  excess  of  all  expen=es,  amounting  to  supplied  many  competent  othceis  to  tiie 
nearly  if  not  quite  S2U0,00U.     The  companv  army  during  the  war.     It  revived  the  null- 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  ISIS.  39 


tary  spirit  here  -when  it  -wa-;  ;it  tlie  lowest  their  exi^tcnr'e  ^Yith  the  cinl  of  the  -war,  be-  ' 
ebb,  and  aided  in  kecpin;,'  it  alive  until  the  ir.g  commanded  by  "\V.  J.  II.  llobinsun,  F.  i 
war  dcJuuu.-tralCHi  the  abiohjte  neces-ity  of  Knetler  and  otlier.-. 

?nch  organization^  in  time  of  peace.  George  A  military  convention  wa.-;  liehl  here  ' 
F.  >rctiinni^,  ^V.  W.  Darnell,  J.  II.  Livj'cy  Juno  27th,  ISGO.  under  the  leuder-iiip  of  : 
and  others  commau.U-d  the  company  L'apiain  Lewis  Wallace,  eleven  companies 
thronccb  the  war.  Shortly  after  it  was  lirit  being  represented,  and  an  encampniea:  was  , 
formc-d  the  National  Guards  Land  was  or-' determined  on,  to  be  liold  Si.'ptember  19th  i 
ganized,  and  under  dilierent  names  and|0n  the  State  military  gromids.  It  was  ac-  ^ 
Avith  some  chan.ges,  still  exists,  Iiolding  accordingly  held  September  iyih-24th,  the 
hish  rank  among  the  musical  organizations, Greys,  Guards,  Zouaves,  M(-<ntgninery  j 
of  the  State.        "  j  Guards,  Fort  Harrison  Guards,   aiv.l  Vigo     i 

Tlie  Citv  Greys  and  the  City  Greys  BandGuards  pariicipatin',',   Gineral   Love  com-     j 
were  organized  August  I'Jtli,  iS-^^T,  and  un-jmanding,  Captain  Slioup  Adjutant.      The 
der  t]ie"pncces>ive  conmiand  of  W.J.  Fl!i-!  unfavorable  weather  prevented  a  large  at-     i 
ott,  E.  Hartwoll  and  others,  attained  a  high|tcndance.  _  _       j 

state  of  di.-cipline.  It  was  uniformed  ini  The  Zouave  Cadets  were  organized  iu 
grav,  wore  bearskin  shakos,  and  was  armed!  August,  1S60,  and  tlie  Zouave  Guards,  Cap- 
fike  the  Guards  with  mu-kets.  It  entered|tain  John  Fahnestock,  in  October.  This 
the  eleventh  regintent  and  closed  its  exist-  company  also  entered  the  eleventli  regi- 
ence -with  the  M-ar,  being  commanded  by  K.'mcnt,  and  terminated  its  existence  at  the 
S.  Foster,  S.  W.  Lutler'and  Henry  Kemper.|end  of  the  war.  The  Cadets  were  in  exLst- 
The  Grevs  Band  in  March,  ISoO,  durins;once  for  a  year  or  two  after  the  war  began 
.1  -  -n-i  .■■/-n^.u  iv._-.^.  t^.rtcd  for  that  Icccl  'under  Certain  Gccr-c  H.  M-'.r-rh.pl!,  and 
itv,  but  turned  otf  toward  Santa  Fe,  and|  most  of  them  entered  the  service  singly  a.s 
thJnoedovn  throuu'h  Mexico  to  Matamoras.lotncers  in  various  regiments  subsoipjently 
and   through    Texas  tu   New   (Orleans  andjov^nized. 

home,  receiving  a  public  weicome  h:.-rei  i  he  news  of  the  attack  on  Suinter  was  re- 
June  Vth,  1860^  after  tlieir  hfteen  months. ceived  April  lith,  and  the  next  day  ret-ruu- 
of  wandering  and  hardship.  The  band  en-iing  began.  The  Guards,  Grevs.  .Zouaves, 
tered  tlic  -ervice,  though  ni.t  as  the  old  or-jand  Zonave  Ciunrds  at  once  filled  up,  anu 
ganization.  '  T'Vere  all  in  camp  by  the  ITth.     Two  reserve 

'The  City  Grevs  Artillery  was  organized'companies  of  National  Guards  were  tuimed. 
in  1S59  as  an  adjunct  to  that  organization,' Two  companies  of  the  Greys  entered  the 
und-r  J.  A.  Cole-^tock  as  captain,  but  ihe'service,  leaving  one  reserve  company  at 
commander  lost  his  arm  not  long  after  by  a'home.  Two  companies  of  t!\e  Inoepenucnt 
premature  explosion  of  the  gun,  and  thej Zouaves  were  in  the  eleventh  regimcni. 
company  was  suspended.  iThe  Zonave  Guards  left   no  reserve   coui- 

In  Julv,  ISo.S,  the  Marion  Dragoons, 'pany.  Besides  these  organmuions  an  artu- 
Captain  John  Love,  ^vere  organized',  and  ierv- company  was  formed,  and  Home  (jnard 
for  a  year  or  two  kept  up  their  organization ompanie.s  in  every  ward.  Several  tfious- 
and  occa.-^i'.nal  parades  but  the  ditiicuitv  ofjands  of  men  were  raised  here  for  tiie  .-ervice 
properly  ckilling  and  keeping  up  a  cavalryjduring  the  war,  without  counting  tlie  gal- 
company  prevented  their  cunllnued  exist- lant  City  Regiment,  twelve  hundred  strong, 
pnce  '^>'"b  its  artillery  and  cavalry  wings,  raised 

TheMont-.,meryG".ards  visited  the  eitvihere  during  the  iMorgan  raid,  or  the  one 
on  the  "Lt  c^f  February.  lSt]0,  and  with  ounthousand  "hundred  daysers"  at  a  later  d:ue 
city  companies  paraded  on  the  22d.  In  the  in  the  struggle.  The  military  record  ot  tae 
afternoon  thev  -ave  a  fancy  drill  by  drum-lcity  during  the  war  was  a  proud  one  and 
beat  in  Zr.nave  dress,  near  the  Bates  Ilousc.iher  quitas  were  always  hLed,  althoti-li  bs 
in  presence  of  an  immense  crowd,  and  ex-  the  remi-sne.ss  of  the  authorities  in  secunn- 
cited  great  admiration.  It  was  at  once  de-  the  proper  credits,  a  drait  was  oraercd  eari> 
termined  to  form  a  Zouave  company  here,;in  ISoo,  and  a  debt  of  several  hiindred 
and  on  the  1st  of  Mareh  the  Independent  I  thousand  dollars  mcurred  lor  'counties  o 
Zciiaves,  Captain  F.  A.  Shoup,  were  ortran-; volunteers  to  hll  requu-iuons  that  =houia 
ized,  unitormed  as  Zouave-,,  armed  with  sa-inever  have  been  iiiade  ^  _ 

bre-bavonet  riiles,  and  persistently  drilled.]  On  the-  4th  ol  l.lruary,  l.v...  (  ah  n 
Shoai,\e<i-ned  in  January,  18G1,  went  SMUth  Fletcher  and  Thoma^  Jonnson  ^^--^^ i'; 
and  joined  the  rebel  armV,  in  which  he  af-  pointed  comnus.-ioners  bv  the  A.^tinin.  to 
terward  be-came  a  brii^adier  general,  and, receive  subscriptions  ami  drain  ^^  -^  j^"^P 
was  noted  as  the  first  one  on'that  side  tu  north-easc  ot  town,  which  ^\'- ^l  f  ^i-^J  "^ 
propose  using  the  negroes  as  soldiers  in  the' waters  by  two  bayotis  \1'7":'  .  'j'S  .''^^^J- 
rebel  cau-e  The  Independent  Zouaves  en-  Thc-y  procee.led  to  execute  tl  e  Nvork  b>  cut 
tctd  t  ;  e  eventh  regiment  and  terminated.ting  a  ditch  west  to  Fall  creek,  south  ot  and 


40  HISTORY  OF 


through  tlie  prc~ent  fair  grounds.  Durincrbnild  the  church  on  tlie  north-west  comer 
the  I1^.„J  of  lilT  the  blinks  of  the  drain'of  University  Squure,  and  a  lea^e  ivas  ob- 
broke  and  the  water  a<:cain  came  down  the  tained  from  the  Assembly ;  but  the  house,  a 
old  channels,  Hooding  tlic  houses  and  alarm- ^niall,  phiin  brick,  was 'comnuncfd  in  the 
ing  nev-  comers.  These  bayou  cliannels  are  tall  on  tlie  south  side  of  Ohio  street,  between 
now  nearly  obliterated  by  the  street  grades  Penns\  Ivania  and  Meridian,  and  wa.s  torn 
and  filling  of  lots.  On  the  6th  (jf  February: down  in  1S52  and  a  new  church  built  in 
the  Assembly  authorized  the  Internal  Im-:iS.33-4  on  the  south-west  corner  of  New 
provcmcnt  Board  to  use  the  half  of  square,  York  and  Alabama  streets.  The  (jerraan  i 
50,  which  had  been  driven  to  the  town  for  Lutheran  church  was  built  in  l^i'O-l  on 
market  purposes  in  1^21,  and  in  lieu  there-:  East  and  Georgia  streets,  Eev.  Charles 
of  to  set  oti'  the  north  half  of  square  48  toFreke,  pa-tor. 

the  town,   the  town  and   the  J^tate  to  ex-j     The   Indianapolis  Female  Institute  was 
change  deeds  on  the  transfer.     On  the  4th'chartered   at    the   session    of    1S3G-7,    and 
of  February  the  tirst  carpenters'  associationopened  June  14tii  by  Misses  Mary  J.  and 
was  incorporated,  and  it  shoitly  after  limit-; Harriet  Axtell,   in  t^anders'  building.      It   . 
ed  a  day's  work  to  ten  hours.  ]was   subsequently   removed    to   the    upper 

The  Episcopalians  had  met  occasionally' rooms  of  the  house   opposite  Washington 
in  1S35  for  woi-ship  at  the  court  house,  as' Hull,  and  finally  to  a  frame  school-house  on 
the  services  of  a   minister  of  that  church; Pennsylvania  street  next  the  old  Presbyter- 
could  be  secured,  but  in  the  winter  of  lS36;ian  church.     The  first  examinations  were 
the  mceungs  had  been  more  frequent,  and  held  April  oOth,  1S3.S,  and  the  school  sub- 
in  ^Iiir:-!:  cr  April,  1S37,  ::  c/.r.rch  m\.s  ^i-,.~f4acuil_»    iuiaineJ    .t    high    icpuuul^ni,  at-   . 
ganized  and  Uev.  James  P..  P.ritton  chosen  tract  in  cr  sch'.lars  from  abroad.     Miss  Axtell 
rector,   preaching  at    the   court  house  and' was  a  faithful  and  competent  teacher,  held 
semiiiary.       Preparations    were    made    for  in  grateful  remembrance  by  her  jiupils,  but 
building   in  November,  and  on  the  7th  of  her  health  failing  the  school  was  discontin- 
May,    1S3S,    the    corner-stone    of    Christ  ued  in  the  fall  of  1S49,  and  .-he  died  at  sea 
Church  was  laid,   a  plain   wooden   Gothic  shortly  after  on  her  way  to  the  West  Indies, 
structure,  on  the  north-east  corner  of  Circle  i     The  Indianapolis  High  School,  afterwards 
and  Meri'lian  streets.    The  hou-e  was  open-  called  the   Franklin  Institute,  was  opened 
ed  for  Services  November  l.sth,  L't'oS.     This  on  AVashington  street,  opposite  Washington 
building  was  used  till   18-57.  when  it  was  Hall,   October  25th,  1S37,  by   G.  Marston 
sold  to  the  African  Methodist  church  and  and    Eliza    Kichmond.      A    frame   school- 
removed  to  West   Georgia   street.     A  new  house  wils  built  in   tb.e  spring  of  1S38  on 
stone  church  (the  first  in  the  city)  was  be- Circle  street  next  the  present  high  school 
gun  in  May,  1857,  and  completed  in  1859.  building,   and   occupied  by  the  school   for 
The  spire  yet  remauis  unfinished.     A  peal  four  or  five  years.     Marston  left  in  1S39, 
of  bells  wiis  placed  in  it  in  May,  ISGO,  and  being  succeed'ed  by  Orlando  Cliestt-r,  who 
taken  out  and  replaced  with  a  better  one  in'dicd  in  October,  1S40,  and  was  succeeded 
September,  18i3U.     A  ta>teful  brick  parson-  by   John   Wheeler,  who    taught   until    the 
age  was    built   near   the    church    in    1S57.  school    was   discontinued.       In    December, 
Kev.  J.  B.  Britton,   S.R.Johnson,   M.  ^1.1837,  it  was  proposed   to  establish   a  S:ate 
Hunter,   N.  W.   Camp,   J.   C.   Talbott,   H.  Female  Seminary  as  the  counterpart  of  the 
Strin;':'c41ow,  T.  P.  Ilolcunb.  J.  T.  P.  In-; Rlonminsrton  College  fir  male=,  aiid  use  the 
grah.-in  have  been  rectors  uf  this  church.     IGovernor's  Circle  as  the  college  building, 
In  1805  the  church  divided,  a  part  of  the  but  tlie  project  was  not  executed.     The  In- 
members  formincr  St.  Paul's  church,  and  in  dianapolis  Academy,  under  J.x=ephus  Cicero 
thespringof  1867  tlie  corner-stone  of  a  large  Wr.rral,  had  been  in  existence  from   183G, 
brick  edifice  was  laid  at  the  corner  of  New. and   continued  for  several  years  after  this 
York  and  Illinois  .-trects,  with  appropriate' date.     Worral  was  a   man_  of  considerable 
services.      Rev.    H.   Stringfellow   has   been'education  but  peculiar  idiasyncracies,  .and 
the  rector  to   this  date.      This  church  hasihis  addresses  to  his  scholars    i  often  publish- 
recentlv  been   completed  and  dedicated  as^ed)  excited  much  amu-^em.ent  on  account  of 
the  cathedral  church  of  the  dioci-se.     Grace'the  flights  of  fancy,  classical  allusions,  and 
church,    on    Pennsvlvania   and   St.  Joseph  stilted  style  in  which  he  indulged. 
streets,  was  built  in   1803-4,  M.  V.  Averill,'     The  first  cflitorial  convention  in  the  State 
rector.     Several  mission  chajK-ls  of  this  de-'met  May  29th  in  the  town  council  chamber, 
nomination  have  since  been  built  in  difler-, twenty  editors  and  publishers  being  present, 
ent  quarters  of  the  citv.  'John  Douglass  acted  as  pre.-Idcnt  and  Job;: 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  cluinh  wa.s  Howling  secretary.  Fifty-two  papers  were 
formed  in  tlie  spring  of  1837.  and  the  first  then  publislied  in  the  State.  An  associa- 
communion  held  May  14th,  Rev.  A.  Reck^tion  was  formed,  constitution  adopted,  and 
being  pastor.     It  was  at  firot  proposed  to; advertising  rates  agreed  on. 


INDIANAPOLIS  FKOM  ISIS. 


41 


As  the  National  Government  was  McAd-March,  and  ro-^iiltcd  in  the  election  of  J;i.s. 
nn-;i^ing  the  centre  of  Wnshin<:ton  street,  it: Morrisun  as  provident.     In  Ajiril  and  ^fay 


\va-  pro{io?cd  in  June  that  tlie  trustees  im-|the  council  pa-;'.<l  ordinances  ;,'overnin;^'  t!u 
prove  the  sidewalks,  and  steps  were  accord-^ niarkcts,  regulaiin-,'  cases  Ijcfure  the  presi- 
ingly  taken  to  do^  so.  The  sidewalks  as  dent,  licensing  groc-eries,  and  iuijirovin^' 
oriLrinally  designed  were  tifteen   icet   wide  sidewalks  and  streets. 

on  Washington  and  ten  feet  on  other  streets.!  The  .summer  and  fall  of  1>GS  was  yrry 
At  a  subsequent  date  they  were  made  twen-isickly  and  many  deaths  took  [)lace.  The 
ty  feet  on  Washington  and  twelve  feet  on 'first  "steam  foundry"'  in  the  town  was  start- 
other  etrcets ;  nnd  within  tlie  last  ten  yearsled  in  January  by"  Wood  c'^:  Undorhill,  on 
lii'teen  feet  has  been  adopted  as  the  standard  ;Pennsyl\ania  street,  where  the  Second  I'res- 
■wldth  on  the  ninety-feet  streets.  Tlie  iu-jhyterian  cluirch  new  stands.  The  old 
creased  width  of  the  pavement  on  Washing- steam  mill  was  finally  closed  in  February 
ton  street  was  bitterly  o p po.se d  by  the  prop- i  of  this  year  and  the  machinery  otiered  fo'r 
erty-holders  on  account  of  tlie  increased  ex-  sale,  though  not  dispo-cd  of  finallv  until  a 
j)ense  entailed  in  their  imiwovement.  The{year  or  two  afterward.  Benjamin  Orr  opened 
first    street    improvements    were   begun   in; the    first   ready-made   clothing  store    here 


1886-7 

A  great  hail  storm  occurred  on  tlie  Ctli  of 
June,  many  of  the  stones  weighing  three 
and  four  ounces,  and  rneasurin:^-  three  iiicli- 


during  this  vear. 

1S^;^I.  'pn  the  13th  of  February  ilie 
Assembly  directed  the  State  officers  to  buy 
!a  resideiu^e  tor  the  Governor,  and  eaily  in 
es  in  length.  Nearly  all  the  windows  in] tlie  spring  Dr.  Sanders'  two-story  brick 
town  were  broken.  The  usual  military  andjdwelling,  erected  in  the  summer  of  16;jG  on 
school  celebration  occurrea  o;i  the  iouithaiie  n')nn-wet-t  corner oi  .MarKct  and  Illinois 
of  July,  the  exercises  closing  with  a  milita-j.-ireeis,  was  purchased  and  used  as  the  otH- 
ry  reception,  and  ball  at  night  in  the  Gov-lcial  residence  till  ItiG-l.  It  was  sold  by  or- 
ernor's  Circle  building.  The  Ladies'  Mis-  der  of  the  As.^embly  in  180-5,  and  a  row  of 
sionary  Society  held  the  first  fair  here  onibusiness  rooms  built  along  the  Illinois  .-treet 
the  31st  of  December,  realizing  S2o0  for  the' front  of  the  lot. 

cause.  Sucli  fairs  were  afterward  very  fre-l  Three  liundred  and  twenty-four  votes 
qucntly  held  by  various  societies  and  fori  were  cast  at  the  corporation  election  in 
various  objcct.s.  March,   N.  E.  Palmer  being  elected  prcsi- 

1S3S.  The  Assembly  re-incorporated  dent.  At  the  meeting  in  April  the  public 
the  town  on  the  17th  of  February,  includ-| wells  v.ere  ordered  to  be  repaired,  by-laws 
ing  the  whole  of  the  donation,  but  limiting! adopted  for  the  government  of  the  town  oiH- 
taxation  for  municipal  purposes  to  the  old  jeers,  and  the  streets  which  were  .still  fenced 
plat.  The  town  was  divided  into  six  wards,  uj)  ordered  to  be  opened.  The  corporation 
all  cast  of  Alabama  street  coiK-cituting  the:  receipts  for  the  year  ending  March  "7th 
first;  thence  west  to  Pennsylvania  the  sec-  were  S7,012,  the  expenditures  S6, 874 ;  $o,- 
ond  ;  thence  to  Meridian  the  third  ;    thence  8-50  of  this  sum  was  paid   Elder,  C'olestock 


to  Illinois  the  fourth  ;  thence  to  Mississippi 
the  fifth  ;  thence  west  the  sixth.  One  trus- 
tee was  to  be  elected  by  eucli  ward,  and  a 
president  by  the  whole  town.     Thev  werej 


Ot  Co.,  for  building  the  west  market  Jiouse 
and  adding  to  the  east  one  ;  S443  were  pair 
M.  Shea,  sexton,  for  clearing  and  fencim 
the  old  graveyard ;    $58   for  printing,  am. 


to  be  freeholders,  hold  office  one  year,  and  18140  for  street  inprovements  and  gravel, 
constitute  the  common  council,  the  prosi-j  The  first  revision  of  the  town  ordinances 
dent  and  four  members  being  a  quorum,  was  made  and  published  in  July.  In  No- 
The  president  had  a  ju-tice's  juri.-^diciion,  vember  S300  were  ap]jroprIated  to  buy  a 
was  to  enforce  ail  ordinances,  and  keep  a 'new  engine;  a  comnrittec  was  appointed  to 
docket.  The  marshal  had  a  constable's  au-|sce  if  it  could  be  bought  for  SGOo,  and  dona- 
thority  and  wtis  to  keep  the  peace.  Tliejtion?  solicited  for  the  purpose, 
council  met  mondily,  the  members  etich  re-i  An  accurate  survey  of  the  dorialion  tin- 
ceiving  twelve  dollars  per  annum.  Theylyear  sliowed  a  mistake  in  the  original  sur- 
had  all  nece.-sary  powers,  to  pass  ordinances,!  vey  by  which  the  title  to  eiglit  acres,  whieh 
levy  taxe?,  (not  over  one-half  per  cent,  onjhad  been  laid  of!'  in  lot.s  and  sold  in  l^'-p, 
real  property)  improve  streeus,  borrow  mon-'v,-as  .still  in  the  general  government.^  liie 
ey,  tax  shows,  saloons  and  groceries,  regu-|  Assembly  memorialized  Congress  in  lebru- 
late  markefs,  guard  against 'fires,  tS:c.  The: ary,  1840,  stating  the  mistake  and  a-king 
a--^^e^3ment  was  to  be  made  annually  ly'a  donation  of  the  eight  acres.  'IhL;  wa.s 
June  1st,  and  collected  by  September  l.st.j  granted  and  the  lille  quieted. 
Tlie  council  was  to  elect  a  secretary,  treas-j  'pijp  f.pgt  municipal  tax  sale  took  place 
urer,  collector,  marshal,  supervisor,  niarket|Q(.j^i^(,j. 'Jolh  at  Wa.-hington  Ilal'^by  Janus 
master,  lister  and  assessor.  The  election;  \'..i;,  15i;iPiL-ina  maivhai  and  collector.  A 
ui'.der  this  act  was  lield  the  last  Saturday  in^^.jj,,,,[,j,.i-able  number  of  sales  were   fubsc- 


42 


IIISTOEY  OF 


ouentlv  made,   but   the   reconis  have  since'     The  first  ci.stern.'^,  two  in  number,  of  tiiree 
Iveen  lost.  hundred  barrels  e.ich,  were  ordered  to  be 

In  November  Mrs.  Britton  openoil  a  fe-jeonstrueted  in  the  spring  ol  thi.s  year, 
male  seminary  near  the  foundry.  This!  The  political  excitement  inrrea,-cd  in  in- 
school — afterward  known  when  under  the  tensity  a.s  the  elections  approached,  bo:h 
care  of  Mrs.  Johnson  as  tlie  "  St.  Marys, parties  lujlding  monster  conventions.  A 
Seminarv" — was  subsequently  removed  to  a  very  larire  convention  was  held  at  Tippeca- 
building'  adjoininij  the  Einscnpal  church,  noe  about  the  la.-t  of  May,  many  persons  at- 
and  for  many  yean<  was  quite  prosperous,     i  tending    from   this   plac-e.     A   preac   Whig 

The  first  Thanksiriving  proclamation  was' convention  was  also  held  here  on  the  oth  of 
issued  on  the  4th  of  November  by  (rovernor  I  October,  and  on  the  14th  of  October  the 
AVallace,  the  day  fixed  on  being  the  2Sth.     | Democrats  held  a  great  meeting  in  the  wal- 

The  Presbvterian  churcii  having  divided^mit  grove  north  of  the  Blind  Asylum  to 
in  May,  ]S:S8,  on  the  slavery  and  otherj  welcome  Kichard  M.  Johnson,  Vice  Presi- 
que^tions,  the  church  here  was  also  divided,; dent  and  reputed  slayer  of  Tecumseh.  lie 
fifteen  of  the  members  forming  the  Second;  was  received  with  due  honors  and  addresseil 
church  November  lUtli.  1838,  under  Kev.jthe  convention.  Colonel  Johnson  visite<i 
J.  11.  Johi-ison.  One  or  two  calls  were  ex-lthe  town  once  or  twice  afterward  on  privale 
tended  to  pastors  but  declined,  and  in  May, j  business.     One  thousand  three  hundred  and 


eighty -seven  votes  were  cast  in  the  township 
at  the  November  election,  Harrison  receiv- 
ing eight  hundred  and  seventy-two,  Van 
Buren  five  hundred  and  fifteen. 

The  Indiana  Ilorticidtunil  Society  was 
formed  August  '2'2d  and  continued  active 
ncr  of  .Market  and  Circle  Greets,  and  occu-ioperations  for  several  years,  Henry  Ward 
pied  bv  the  congre-^atinn  October  4th,  1840.!Beecher  and  James  Blake  being  among  its 
.Mr.  Bcechcr  remained  till  September  19th, 'most  prominent  supporters. 
HIT,  and  was  succvL-ded   In-  Kcv.  Clement 


lS:;',t,  Kev.  II.  ^V.  Bcecher,  then  of  Law- 
rencebnrgh,  was  called,  and  began  his  min- 
istrations July  ol-t.  The  congregation  wor- 
'--hiped  in  tlie  seminary.  In  1839-40  a 
frame  church  (the  present  high  school 
buiidin'jL)  was  erected  at  the  nnrth-we-i  cor 


F..  BabI)  in  Julv.  181s,  who  remained  till 
J.ii;!i:'.ry  I-t,  18-'):;.  B'V.  T.  A.  Mills  was 
nalleil  as  pastor  Januaiy  1st,  1854,  remain 


The    annual   Methodist   conference    met 
here  October  •21st.  Bishop  Soule  presiding. 
1841.     In   March,  James  "Wood,  civil 


ii!g  till  February  9th,  1857.  Rev.  G.  PJengineer,  made  a  profile  of  the  streets  by 
Tii;l:'.!l  b'.vv.me  pa-tor  in  August,  1857,  and'direction  of  the  council  to  establish  a  uni- 
I!ev.  11.  X.  Ivlson  in  November,  1S63.  In: form  system  of  grades,  to  be  followed  in 
Nov!.nd)cr.  1^51,  twenty-four  of  the  mem-itheir  future  improvement.  The  profiile  was 
bcrs  ibrmeil  the  Fourth  Presbyterian! fded  -with  the  a'.ithoritics,  adopted  by  the 
Cnurch,  and  crc-cted  a  brick  church  inicouncil  April  Sth,  1842,  and  has  been  fol- 
1853-1  on  Delaware  and  Market  streets.jlowed  in  nearly  all  the  subsequent  improve- 
In  the  s'pring  of  18')4  a  new  stone  church, I ments.  The  survey  and  profile  cost  S30:'>. 
r:ot  yet  fully  completed,  was  begun  on  Ver-I  On  the  10th  of  April  a  meeting  was  held 
r;K'nt  and  Penn-ylvania  streets,  and  is  nowjto  make  arrangements  for  funeral  services 
J,'  -rly  completed  at  a  cost  of  about  S100,-!for  President  Harrison.  The  exercLses  took 
K'fl  It  is  tlte  finest  cliurch  building  in  theiplace  on  the  17th,  Gover.\or  Biirser  and 
(iiv.  'I  iie  chapel  was  oc<-upied  December. Henry  Ward  Beecher  delivering:  addresses. 
2'!,  l>fjr.  The  Fiftli  Pnsbytorian  church  Ba.-iness  was  suspended  during  the  day,  and 
is  a  Culi;ny  from  the  Second,  and  theirithc  funeral  procession  was  imposing.  T!;e 
i-bu-ch  was  dedicatwl  May  loth,  1864.1 14th  of  May  was  observed  throughout  the 
Tr:.'  Olivet  church  is  ai-o  a  colonv,  dedicat-lcountrv  as  a  fa.st  day  for  the  death  ot  the 
In-  their  church  O-tobcr  20th,  1807.     The!  President. 

o'li  frarue  chtirch  was  sold  to  the  city  for  a|  1842.  By  the  treasurer's  report  in 
liigh  school  buihiing  in  the  spring  of  1807,' March  the  corporation  receipts  lor  the  pa.-t 
an'.l  v.-as  last  used  as  a  church  July  16th, lyear  amounted  to  S3,197,  expenditures  .r2,- 
5807.  i'.'57  ;    SI, 138  had  been  expended  for  street 

1840.  Much  political  excitement  oc-i improvements  and  8707  for  salaries.  The 
ciirred  this  year,  and  the  Whigs  carried  the'coimty  receipts  from  March  1st,  1841,  to 
luunicipai  election  in  Marcli  for  the  firstj June"  1st,  1842,  were  $9,942,  expenditures 
time,  electing  the  tru-tees  and  town  officers. 'S8, 194.  The  salaries  of  the  town  officers 
The  corporation  refeij)ts  for  the  year  1839ifor  1842  were  as  follows  :  Secretary  S200, 
.'i;iio;mted  to  S5,975,  the  expenditures  to! treasurer  SlOO,  m.arshal  SlOO.  supervisor 
?1,753  ;  SI,9S4  of  this  sum  M'ere  .spent  on!S200,  collector  S200,  assessor  S75,  market 
the  market'  hovi.-es,  Sl.ooO  on  street.s  andima-ster  S140,  messenger  of  fire  company 
b-idires,  §197  on  the  fire  department,  S974  SlOO.  An  etlbrt  was  made  in  the  fall  to  r'> 
for  Sidaries,  and  S244  for  incidentaLs.  ipeal  the  act  of  incorporation  on  account  of 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1S18. 


43 


the  expenses  attending  the  muiucipul  gov-|Ledslauire  to  the  condition  of  the  insane, 
ernment.  ulind,  and  de:if  and  dumb  i)cry(in.s  in  tiie 

On  the  25th  of  A]iril  at  two  o'clock  A.M.,  State,  su::;;estintr  stejis  for  their  edn.-ation 
the  town  vv-;i.s  startled  by  a  heavy  oxiilf.-inn.and  maintenance  ;  and  as  earlv  as  Jann;>rv 
and  iin  exiimination  it  was  found  tiiat  tlie  I  s3i>,  the  Assembly  hati  memorialized  Con- 
grocery  of  Frederick  Smith,  a  (uie-storyieress  askin?  a  pnint  for  that  object,  and  on 
frame  house,  where  03  East  Washinirtonitlie  loth  of  Febnuirv.  18:!9,  the  assos.sors 
street  now  is,  had  bc-en  blown  up  with; were  directed  to  ascertain  and  retxirt  the 
powder,  and  further  search  revealed  thej  number  of  deaf  mutes  in  eucli  countv.  The 
body  of  Smith  badly  burned  and  ^s•ounded.j Governor  was  directed,  Januarv  Sl'st,  LS42 
He  liad  atteinpted  suicide  duriiiK  temporary  to  correspond  with  the  Governors  of  other 
insanity,  sitting  on  the  keg  of  powder  aii<l  States  coticernin?  the  cost,  constrnctiun  and 
applying  the  match.  jmanngement  of  Insane  Hospitals.    Dr.  .John 

The  first  daguerrcdiype  saloon  here  wasi Evans  delivered  a  lecture  December  20t!i, 
opened  by  T.  AV.  Whiirid-e  in  July  or  Au-;ls42,  before  the  Assembly  on  tb.e  treatment 
gurft.  I)uring  the  fall  James  Elake  erected  I  of  insanity,  and  on  the  ICth  of  Februarv, 
a  mill  and  furnaces  ainl- attempted  the  man-ilS43,  the  Governor  was  directed  to  corrci- 
nfacture  of  syrup  and  sugar  from  corn-j pond  with  superintendents  of  ho-pitals  and 
?talks.  ^  procure  plans  to  be  submitted  with  his  sug- 

This  year  was  di-^tincnii-hed  by  the  visitslgestions  at  the  next  ses^^ion.  Thi^  was  done, 
of  two  Presidential  ciiiclidates.  Van  Eureniand  a  tax  of  one  cent  on  the  hundred  dol- 
and  Clay.  Mr.  Van  Puren  arrived  byjlars  was  levied  January  15th,  1S44,  for  hos- 
stage  on  Saturday,  the  11th  of  June,  being|pital  buildings.  On  tlie  loth  of  Jan..  1S45, 
received  e;u?t  of  tov/n  by  a  proces.sion  com-! John  Evans,  Livingston  Dunlap  and  Jame.'< 
posed  of  citizens,  firemen,  and  four  military: Blake  were  appointed  commissioners  to  se- 
companies,  and  was  escorted  with  due  hon-jlect  a  site  of  not  more  than  two  hundred 
ors  to  the  Palmer  House,  where  he  made  a 'acres.  They  chose  the  present  site  in  the 
speech  in  repl\-  to  the  wek^jming  address. ^spring  of  1S45,  and  reported  it,  with  a  plan 
He  visited  Governor  Bigger  at  the  State'of  the  building,  at  the  following  session, 
house,  and  held  a  reception  in  the  evening.! On  the  li'th  of  January,  1S4'),  they  were 
On  Sunday  he  attended  the  Methodi-t  and  ordered  to  begin  the  iiospital  accordincr  to 
Second  Presbyterian  churches,  and  left  on, the  plan  on  the  site,  and  sell  hospital  square 
Monday  by  stage  for  Terrc  Haute,  being'22,  its  proceeds,  with  Slo.OOO  in  addition, 
upset  near  Plaintield  while  t'ji.  ro'f'tf.  Henry  i  being  appropriated  to  the  building.  The 
Clay  arrived  October  5tii,  attending  a  Whig' central  portion  of  the  hospital  v.-as  becrun  in 
convention  in  response  to  an  invitation  of  the  summer  of  1S4G  and  finished  in  ls47,  at 
the  party.  The  cruwd  on  that  occasion  was! a  cost  of  about  S75,000.  The  south  wing 
generally  estimated  at  thirty  thousand,  and |  was  built  in  1853-4,  and  the  north  witig 
considering  the  facilities  for  travel,  then! -everal  years  afterward.  Various  additions, 
and  since,  it  has  never  since  been  eqtialed.jchanees  and  repairs  have  also  been  made, 
The  procession  included  many  bands,  many 'and  the  house  as  tinaliy  completed  lia=  cost 
military  companies,  representatives  of  all; nearly  if  not  quite  S5'J<J.0u0.  and  is  among 
trades  and  pirofessions,  and  was  nearly  two' the  largest  buildings  in  the  West.  It  is  sit- 
hours  passing  a  given  jioint.  It  proceeded iuated  on  a  quarter-section  of  land  two  miles 
to  a  grove  north  of  <-iovernor  Noble's  house,;  west  of  the  city,  is  from  three  to  five  -tories 
where  a  £rreat  barbecue  was  spread  for  the  in  bight,  with  a  basement,  and  is  about  five 
a.ssembled  thousands.  Mr.  Clay  spoke  for; hundred  feet  in  length.  It  was  first  ojx-ned 
two  liours  after  dinner,  and  was  followed  by  for  the  reception  of  patients  in  1^47,  and 
Governor  Crittenden,  (rovernor  ^Metcalf  and  I  has  ever  since  been  fully  occupied.  Dr. 
other  AVhig  leaders.  The  festivities  lasted !, John  Evans  was  its  originator  and  tirst  su- 
tliree  days,  and  included  a  grand  military: perintendent.  He  resigned  July  1st,  1S4S. 
parade,  and  review  by  the  Governor,  a  tineill.  J.  Patterson,  .1.  S.  Athon,  J.  H.  Woixl- 
exhibition  of  fireworks  and  an  agricultural  burn  and  W.  J.  Lockhart  have  since  been 
fair.  I  the  successive  superintendents  of  the  in.^ti- 

During  this  and  several  following  years  itution. 
an  excitement  about  me-merisni  spread!  The  first  stepts  having  been  taken  to  pro- 
through  the  West.  Lecturers  went  from  vide  for  the  insane,  the  Assembly,  on  the 
point  to  pxjint  explaining  the  new  science  to!  13th  of  February,  1S43,  levied  a  two-mill 
the  natives  and  giving  experiments  in  illus- tax  to  support  the  deaf  mutes  and  build 
tratiun.  Many  amu-lng  -cenes  occurred  in  them  an  asylum.  William  Wiliard,  a  mute 
the  trials  made  on  tlie  "subjects''  by  com- 1 teacher  from  Oliio,  arrived  nere  in  the 
mittees  ap{X)inted  by  the  audiences.  !spring  of  1843  and  openetl  a  private  school 

1  843.  Physicians  and  philanihropi-ts  iqi-  niutes  on  the  1st  of  October,  having  six- 
had  repeatedly  called  the  attention  of  theiteeu   pupils   during  the   first   year.      This 


44 


HISTORY  OF 


school  was  ad(iptcd  by  tha  State  on  the  loth  S5.000  beinir  appropriated  for  a  site,  furni- 
of  January,  1S44,  and  the  Govt-rnor,  Troas-  lure,  Oct.  Mr.  Fletcher  declinincf  to  serve 
urer  and  :recretarv  of  State,  with  Henry;  Set  on  W.  Norri«  was  appointed  trnstee! 
Ward  Beecher,  Phineas  D.  Gnrley,  P.  II.  Two  blocks  on  North  street  were  pHrcha-ed 
Jamison,  L.  Dunlap,  James  Morrison  and  for  a  site,  a  plan  selected  and  the  bnildins/ 
Matthew  Simpson  appointed  trustees,  with'comnienced.  The  school  was  opcne<i  Octo- 
instruetions  to  rent  a  room  and  employber  1st,  1S47,  in  the  buildiiu^  on  the  south- 
teachers.  They  rented  the  liouse  on  tlie'wcst  corner  of  Illinois  and  Marvland  streets 
soutli-west  corner  of  Illinois  and  Maryland  by  Mr.  W.  11.  Churelmian,  who  had  been 
streets,  and  opened  the  scliool  there  Octoberlappointed  superintendent.  Nine  pupils 
1st,  1S44.  The  Governor  was  also  to  receive  were  in  attenrlance  on  the  4tli.  and  thirty 
proposals  for  site,  t^-c.  The  Governor  was  during  the  session.  In  September,  1848 
authorized  on  the  15th  of  January,  1845,  to! the  sdiool  was  removed  to  a  three-story 
appoint  five  trustees  in  place  of  the  former i brick  building  erected  on  the  grounds  and 
board,  lie  did  so,  and  in  the  fall  of  1 84(5 i afterward  used  as  a  workshop.  The  asvlum 
the  new  board  rented  the  Kinder  buildingiwas  commenced  the  same  year  and  finished, 
on  East  "Wasiiington  street  and  removed  the  with  some  changes  of  plan  and  detail-,  in 
school  there,  where  it  remained  until  the;  1.^51.  at  a  cost  of  SG0,O0'J,  and  the  pupils 
completion  of  the  Asylum  in  October,  ISoO.iand  school  at  once  removed  to  it.  Tiie  sur- 
The  institution  was  permanently  locatcd'rounding  grounds  have  since  been  tastefullv 
here  January  9th,  1846,  the  trustees  being!  laid  out  "and  planted  with  trees  and  shrub- 
directed  to  buy  thirty  acres  near  the  city,!bery.  "\V.  II.  Chun^hman,  G.  W.  Ames, 
$3,000  being  ajipropriated  therefor.  TheyjW."  C.  Larrabee  and  James  McWorkman 
were  subsequently  directed  to  buy  one  hun-  have  been  superintendents  of  tl:e  institution, 
dred  acn  s  in  add"ition  to  instruct  the  pupilsj  The  asylums  are  creditable  to  the  city 
in  agriculture.  The  site  was  bought  east  ofiand  State,  not  only  for  extent,  manatrement 
the  city  in  the  summer  of  l.S4b  and  the'and  arrangement,"  but  also  that  thev  were 
building  begun  in  1849  and  finished  by  Oc-jl)uilt  when  the  State  was  heavily  in  debt 
tober,  ] 850,  at  a  cost  of  about  SoO.OOO.  It'and  the  people  unprepared  for  the  extra 
was  rough-casted  and  completed  in  1853.jtaxation  necessary  for  their  supj-ort. 
On  its  completion  the  school  was  removedj  In  February,  1843,  a  fire  damacred  the 
there  and  has  been  prosjx-rously  managed  I  Washinsrt on  llall  to  the  extent  of  s3,000, 
ever  since.  Many  mutes  have  received  land  seriously  threatened  its  e;Uire  destruc- 
their  entire  education  there  and  been  fitted! tion.  The  weather  was  exce.-sively  cold, 
for  active  ■bu-iness  pursuits.  Prior  to  184SI the  water  freezing  as  it  fell,  and  the  house 
pupils  who  were  able  were  required  to  payiwa-s  saved  after  several  hours'  hard  work  by 
tuition  and  board,  but  since  then  the  eduea-the  engine  companies,  aided  by  !nmdre<]s  of 
tion  and  maintenance  of  all  have  been  free. 'citizens  in  passing  buckets. 
William  Willard  was  the  originator  and!  The  Millerite  delusion,  which  had  some 
first  teacher  of  the  school.  James  S.  Brown 'of  the  citizens  among  its  adherents,  created 
Avas  the- first  superintendent  from  1845  to'some  excitement  during  the  winter  and 
October,  1852,  and  since  that  date  Dr.|-pring.  The  belief  in  the  approaching  end 
Thomas  Mclntyre  has  been  in  charge  oflof  all  things  was  strengthened  by  an  earth- 
the  institution.  jquake  on  the  4th  of  Januar^-  between  ei^ht 

The  insane  and  the  deaf  mutes  being  thus'and  nine  o'ch>ck,  lasting  nearly  a  minute 
provided  for,  the  blind  were  still  neglected  ;;and  sensibly  shaking  the  buikiings.  It  wa.'< 
but  during  tliL' session  of  1844-5  pupils  from'also  encouraged  by  the  great  comet  which 
the  Kentucky  Institution  gave  an  exhibi-' nightly  flamed  in  the  south-west  during 
tion  before  tiie  Assembly  with  such  success! Feljruary  and  ]\Iarch,  its  train  reaching 
that  a  two-mill  tax  was  "at  once  ordere<l  for' across  the  sky  like  a  destroying  sword, 
the  support  and  education  of  the  blind.iThe  weather  however  wa.s  adverse,  being 
James  M.  Ray,  George  W.  Mears,  and  the  cold  and  stormy  during  March  and  April, 
Secretary,  Tr'easurer  and  Auditor  of  State|with  deep  and  drifting  snows,  followed  in 
were  ap'pointed  commissioners  at  the  next! May  by  heavy  rains,  filling  tlie  streams, 
session  to  expend  the  fund  thus  created  inswc'eping  off  bridges,  breaking  the  canaL«, 
starting  a  school  or  maintaining  pupils  atjand  raisin?  White  river  over  the  bottoms. 
the  Ohio  or  Kontuckv  institutions.  Theyj  The  2'Jd  of  February  and  the  4th  of  July 
appointed  William  IL  Churchman  as  lee-! were  celebrated  by  the  military,  four  com- 
turer  to  present  the  case  to  the  peojile  andi panics  participating,  and  the  last  anniver- 
to  ascertain  the  number  of  blind  in  the!sarv  by  the  schools  in  the  usual  style.  In 
State.  On  the  27th  of  Januarv.  1S47,  G.  the  month  of  June  R.  Parmlee  begtm  mak- 
W.  Mears,  J.  M.  Ray  and  Calvm  Fletcher.jing  pianos  here,  and  contimied  the  business 
were  apfK)inted  comniL-^sioners  to  erect  asy-jtwo  or  three  years.  In  Novenil>er^  "  The 
lum   buildings   and    arrange    for  a  school,! New  York  Company  of  Comedians"  gave 


INDIANAPOLIS  FEOM  1818. 


45 


a  series  of  concerts  in  Gaston's  carriage  shop' 
on  Washington  west  of  Illinois  street,  each 
concert  being  succeeded  by  a  theatrical  rep-' 
rescntation.  John  and  ^iary  rowell,  Sam. 
Lathrop,  Mr.  "Wallace,  Turn.  Townley  and: 
others  were  llic  actors.  The  C')nipany  liad 
considerable  merit  and  attracted  crood  audi- 
ences. During  the  season,  which  lasted  fori 
ten  weeks,  the  noted  tragedian,  Augustus  A.! 
Adnms,  Mrs.  Alexander  Drake  and  Mr.j 
Morris  were  the  stars.  This  company  was' 
the  third  whi(.-h  performed  here,  Lind-' 
say's  company  having  performed  several' 
vcars  before,  and  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Smith  in' 
1823-4.        _  _  I 

The  Indianapolis  Female  Collegiate  In-' 
stitute,  Miss  Lcsuer,  principal,  began  ini 
September  in  the  Franklin  Institute  on  Cir-[ 
cic  street,  and  continued  two  or  three  years. 
The  Roberts  Chapel  Methodist  cluirch  was 
built  during  this  and  the  following  year  at' 
a  cost  of  eight  or  ten  thousand  dollars,  on| 
the  corner  of  ]\[arket  and  Pennsylvania' 
streets,  under  J.  S.  Bayless,  the  fn~t  pastor.! 
The  congregation  worsiiiped  in  the  court: 
house  until  the  completion  of  the  church. i 
The  present  lot  and  buihlLne  were  sold  in' 
June,  1868,  and  steps  are  being  taken  toj 
erect  a  larger  and  finer  edifice  at  a  cost  ofj 
about  $.80,000,  on  the  north-west  corner  ofl 
Vermont  am!  Delaware  streets. 

184  4.  The  Union  Cemeter}-  was  laid 
out  in  April  adjoining  the  old  burying' 
ground.  In  185'i  Messrs.  Kay,  Peck  and: 
Blake,  laid  out  the  ground  north  and  east  ofj 
this  cemetery  for  burial  purposes,  and  ini 
1860  the  Grecnlawn  Cemetery,  west  of  the! 
la.st-named  ground  and  next  tlie  river  and 
Terre  Haute  railroad,  was  added. 

A  meeting  was  held  on  the  oth  of  August! 
to  make  arrangements  for  the  contemplated; 
visit  of  Lewis  Cas.s.  He  came  on  the  25tli 
and  wa.s  received  witii  due  honors  and  con-: 
ducted  to  the  State  military  grounds,  where' 
a  welcoming  address  was  made  by  Governor] 
Whit  comb,  and  a  long  speech  made  by  Gen- 
eral Cass  in  response.  He  was  followed  by! 
Senator  Hannegan  and  others.  The  pro-! 
ces.sion  and  audience  was  large  and  enthusi-! 
a.stic.  A  re>'e[ition  was  held  for  several 
hours  at  the  Palmer  House,  and  lie  left  at 
six  in  the  evening  for  Dayton. 

18  4  5.  Thf^  Thespian  Society,  com|X)sed 
of  young  men  of  the  town,  gave  a  series  of 
dramatic  performances  during  July,  August 
and  Septemlxr.  They  also  performed  dur- 
ing September  and  Octolier  of  the  following 
year.  S<;veral  of  the  performers  evinced 
decided  talent  for  the  stage,  and  their  etlbrts 
attracted  good  audiences. 

The  usual  celebrations  occurred  on  the. 
Fourth  of  July,  but  the  day  was  signalized  1 
by  a  riot,  resulting  in  the  murder  of  John 
Tucker,  a  negro,  on  Illinois  street  opposite 


the  present  site  of  the  Bates  House.  Bal- 
lenger,  the  principal  in  the  aliray,  made  his 
escape.  Nic-k  Woods  was  sent  to  the  peni- 
tentiary, and  the  others  were  acquitted. 

"Wasliini'ton  street  was  grad^'d  and  grav- 
eled in  Jidy.  In  Au?u.-c  and  September 
Seton  W.  Norris  built  the  present  Hubbard 
block,  then  the  best  business  hoase  in  tlie 
place. 

On  the  16th  of  August  John  II.  Ohr, 
Daniel  B.  Culley  and  I)avid  K.  Elder,  ap- 
prentices in  the  Journal  ofiice,  is.-ued  the 
tirst  number  of  the  Locoinotiue,  and  contin- 
ued its  publication  weekly  for  three  montli.s. 
It  was  revived  by  them  April  od,  1847,  and 
again  issued  lor  three  months.  Its  size  was 
seven  by  ten  inches,  and  each  three  months' 
issue  formed  a  volume.  Douglass  ^t  Elder 
revived  it  January  1st,  1848,  and  issued  it 
weekly  from  an  ofiice  on  South  Meridian 
street'in  Ilulibard's  block,  till  July,  18G1, 
when  its  publication  was  suspended  and  its 
subscription  list  transferred  to  the  Sentinel. 
Its  size  when  tirst  issued  by  them  wa,s  eight 
by  thirteen  inches,  and  after  several  en- 
largements it  was  finally  published  on  a 
sheet  twenty -three  by  thirty -one  inches. 
Elder  &  Harkness  lx;came  proprietors 
March  30th,  18o0,  and  continued  .such  till 
its  suspension.  For  a  number  of  years  it 
had  the  greatest  circulation  in  the  county, 
and  published  the  letter-list.  It  was  neutral 
in  politics,  and  devoted  to  literary  and  news 
matters. 

The  old  Methodist  church,  erected  in 
182S-9  on  Meridian  and  Circle  street.s,  hav- 
ing become  unsafe  from  the  cracking  of  the 
walls,  was  torn  down  and  Wesley  Chapel 
erected  in  this  and  the  following  year  on  its 
site.  It  has  since  been  in  constant  use  by 
Wesley  Chapel  charge,  but  will  probably  be 
sold  this  year  and  a  finer  and  larger  edifice 
will  be  built  on  the  south-west  corner  of 
Meridian  and  New  York  streets. 

1  8  4  G  .  The  corporation  receipt.s  for  the 
year  ending  March  31,  amounted  to  .82,- 
636.  This  had  all  been  expended  and  a 
debt  of  $370  contracted.  This  debt  caused 
some  uneasiness  to  the  citizens. 

The  Mexican  war  began  early  hi  April, 
and  the  news  was  received  here  early  in 
]May.  The  Governor's  proclamation  call- 
ing for  voluntee.-^  appeared  May  23d.  Re- 
cruiting at  once  began  and  a  company  was 
lormed  in  June  under  captain  J.  P.  Drake, 
and  lieutenants  John  A.  McDougull  and 
Lewis  Wallace,  and  marched  to  the  rendez- 
vous at  New  Albany.  This  company  was 
attached  to  the  first  Indiana  regiment  under 
colonel  Drake,  and  spent  the  year  of  its 
enli.-tment  guarding  stores  in  Matamoras. 
Two  additional  companies,  under  captains 
Edward  Lnnder  and  John  A.  McDougall, 
were  raided   in  May  and  September,  1847, 


46 


HISTORY  OF 


and  attached  to  tlie  fourth  and  fit'th  resi-'weeks  the  work  was  actively  and  effoctivelv 
mciit.s.      A    number  ot'  recruits   were   also; prosecuted. 

secured  here  for  tlie  regular  army.  Butj  The  A'^sembiy  on  the  13th  ot'  Fohruarv, 
Iktle  excitement  existed  here  in  reo-ard  to'lB47.  granted  the  town  a  ciiy  cliarter,  its 
this  war,  and  it  was  generally  viewed  from 'acceptance  or  rejection  to  ho  decided  by  a 
a  party  stand  point.  jvote  of  the  citizens  on  the  :27th  of  March, 

The  ^ladison  railroad  depot  was  locatcdand  in  case  of  itri  acceptance  the  Governor 
this  summer  on  the  liiph  ground  south  of  was  to  proclaim  the  fact  and  that  it  had 
Pogue's  run,  nearly  half  a  mile  from  thebecome  a  law.  The  donation  cast  of  the 
settled  portion  of  the  town.  The  locationjriver  was  included  in  the  corporation,  and 
caused  much  dissatisfaction,  and  the  com-iwas  divided  in  seven  wards.  Washington 
pany  was  strongly  urged  to  build  its  depot  street  was  the  boundary  between  the  north 
on  Maryland  street ;  but,  the  location  hav-'and  south  wards.  All  east  of  Alabama  and 
ina  been  finally  determined  on,  the  coun-inorth  of  Wasliington  was  the  first;  thence 
ci!  ordered  the  impirovement  of  Pennsylva-lwest  to  Meridian  the  second;  thence  to 
nia  and  I'elaware  streets  across  the  lowjMissispippi  the  third;  thence  west,  fourth ; 
valley  of  the  run,  and  the  creek  bed  was'all  •west  of  Illinois  and  .«outh  (>f  ^V'ashing- 
straightened  from  Virginia  avenue  to  Meri-jton,  tiftli ;  thence  east  to  I\-!aware,  sixth; 
dian  street  by  the  property  holders.  [thence  all  east  the  seventh.     Tlie  first  city 

The  citizens  liecame  provoked  during  the'eiection  was  to  take  place  April  24th.  The 
summer  at  the  bold  operations  of  the  gam- j  Mayor  was  to  serve  two  years,  had  a  jus- 
blei-s.  Meetings  were  held,  a  committee  of[tice's  jurisdiction  and  the  veto  power.  One 
fifteen  appointed,  resolutions  to  abiate  thelcouncilman  was  to  be  elected  from  each 
nuisance  adopted,  and  Hiram  Erown,  the; ward  at  S24  annual  salary  and  serve  one 
oldest  member  of  the  bar,  retained  to  pros-'year.  The  council  was  to  elect  one  of  their 
ecute  the  offenders.  Vigorous  measures! number  president,  hold  monthly  meetings. 
were  taken,  and  repeated  in  December, jtwo-thirds  being  a  quorum.  They  had  full 
1847,  and  the  gamblers  compelled  to  leave  power  to  piiss  ordinance^,  levy  taxes,  estab- 
the  town.  Much  feeling  was  arousci  by  lis'i  dLstrict  schools  and  levy  t;cxes  therefor, 
these  measures  and  the  fifteen  were  de-grade  streets,  suppress  nuisances,  c^x.,  and 
nounced  as  a  vigilance  committee,  but  the  were  to  elect  a  secretary,  trea.-urer,  assessor, 
desired  object  was  attained  and  the  town] marshal,  (who  was  to  have  a  constable's 
rid  of  the  presence  of  many  bad  characters.jau'.hority,)    street    commissioner,    attorney, 

land  such  other  othcers  as  might  be  needed. 

1847.  Heavy  and  continued  rains.jTaxation  for  general  purpo>es  was  limited 
amounting  to  twelve  inches  in  forty-ci^ht'to  fifteen  cents  on  the  SlOO.  but  could  be 
hours,  liad  fallen  over  the  .State  during  tiie;increase(i  if  sjiecially  authorizcil  by  vote  of 
last  days  of  December,  184t.'),  producing  byjtb.e  people.  At  the  election  for  city  officers 
the  first  of  January  the  greatest  Hood  in  in  April  a  vote  was  also  to  be  taken  on  the 
"White  river  and  its  triljutaries  since  1S24.  question  of  tax  for  free  schools. 
The  wliole  valley  was  flooded,  wa.shing  otfl  Joseph  A.  Levy,  the  last  president  of  the 
soil,  cattle,  hogs,  fences,  hay,  and  causing  iniold  town  council,  is.sued  a  prociaiiuuion  di- 
various  ways  so  much  damtige  that  the  As-;recting  an  election  to  be  held  in  tlie  six 
sembly  authorized  a  deduction  of  taxes  for, wards  of  the  town  on  the  27th  of  March, 
the  year  to  parties  residing  on  the  streams,  to  determine  the  acceptance  or  rejection  of 
The  swanap  north-east  of  town  becoming  the  new  charter.  The  election  resulted  in 
full,  the  banks  of  the  drain  broke  flooding:449  votes  for  to  19  against  it.  This  vote 
the  two  bayous,  and  causing  loss  and  incon-'was  certitied  to  Governor  Whitcomb  on  the 
venience  to  parties  who  had  built  alongi29th,  and  on  the  30th  he  proclaimed  the 
them.  West  Indianapolis  was  covered,  anri  adoption  of  the  cliarter  and  that  it  had  bc- 
the  National  road  and  canal  badly  injured,  come  a  law.  Joseph  A.  Levy,  president^  of 
The  ac»pieduct  bv  which  the  canal  crossed  the  old  c<nuicil,  then  issued  a  proclamation 
Fall  creek  was  broken,  and  not  repaired  tiirdirectin?  an  election,  on  the  24ih  of  April, 
late  in  the  fall,  the  mills  meanwhile  lyingin  the  seven  wards  of  the  city,  for  mayor 
idle.  This  flood  was  almost  efiualled  f)y;and  councilmen.  and  also  to  decide  whether 
another  in  November.  ''i  t'*x  should  be  levied  tor  free  schools.    The 

The   22d  of  Felrruarv  wa.s  celebrated   bv'election  was  held  and  the  tax  almost  unan- 


the  meclianics  with  a  procession,  speeches, 
diimer.   Sec.     A   meetin?   was  held  on  the 


imously    authorized^      Samuel    Henderson 
was  elected  the  first  mayor,  and  the  follow- 


2oth  of  February  to  take  measures  for  the'ing  persons  from  the  several  wanLs  the  first 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM   1818. 


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48 


HISTORY  OF 


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INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


49 


6fth,  Abram  "W.  Ilarrison  the  sixth,  "Wil- 
liam L.  "W'ingatc  the  seventh.  The  new 
council  was  organized  May  1st,  and  elected 
Samuel  S.  Kookcr  president,  and  James  G. 
Jordan  sec'ry,  at  a  salary  of  .5100;  Nathan 
Lister,  treasurer,  at  SoO ;  James  "Wood, 
engineer,  at  SoUO;  William  Campbell,  col- 
lector, with  per  cent,  compensation;  Wil- 
liam Campbell,  marshall,  at  S150  and  fees; 

A.  M.  Carnahan,  attorney,  with  fees;  Jacob 

B.  Fitler,  street  commissioner,  at  $100 ; 
Davitl  Cox  and  Jacob  JB.  Fitler,  messengers 
of  the  fire  companies,  at  825  each ;  Sanjp- 
son  Earbc-e  and  Jacob  Miller,  clerks  of  the 
markets,  at  $50 ;  Joshua  Black,  assessor ; 
and  Benjamin  F.  Lobaugh,  sexton.  [The 
city  ofllcers,  from  1847  to  the  jiresent  time, 
are  named  on  pages  47  and  4S.]  The  tax 
duplicate  I'or  184G-7  amounted  to$4,22G,  and 
S8t)5  of  this  sum  were  delini|ueiicit  s  from  for- 
mer years.  Though  there  was  little  nnjuey 
in  the  treasuj-y  the  council  at  once  began  to 
improve  tlie  streets,  and  it  was  waggishly 
suggested  that  they  employ  a  squad  to  tramp 
down  the  dog-fennel  and  thus  give  the  place 
a  business  appearance. 

Little  had  been  done  by  the  old  trustees 
and  councilmen  in  tlie  way  of  street  im- 
provements, beyond  filling  mud  lioles,  cut- 
ting drains  or  grubbing  stumps,  and  though 
James  Wood  had  been  employed  to  make 
a  street  protile  in  March,  1841,  which  had 
been  adopted  in  April,  1842,  and  followed 
in  the  subsequent  improvements,  and  con- 
siderable sums  expended,  no  permanent  re- 
sults had  been  achieved.  The  street  profile 
was  re-adupted  by  the  new  city  council 
June  21,  1S47,  and  a  new  systeni  com- 
menced, begiiuiing  at  the  centre  of  tlic  city 
and  extending  gradually  outward.  I'rop- 
erty  holders  were  required  to  bear  the  ex- 
pense of  grading  and  gravelling  in  front  of 
their  lots,  and  the  city  finished  the  cross- 
ings. The  first  buuldering  was  done  in 
May,  1S50,  by  Looker  and  Lefevre,  on 
Wasaingt(jn  between  Illinois  and  Meridian 
streets,  and  by  the  summer  of  1860  it  was: 
completed  from  Mississippi  to  Alabama 
streets,  and  from  thence  it  has  been  extend- 
ed east  and  west  and  north  and  south. 
Nearly  all  the  present  street  improvements, 
culverts  and  bridi^es,  have  been  com])lcted 
in  the  last  twelve  years. 

The  free  school  tax  liaving  been  author- 
ized by  a  large  majority,  at  the  election  held 
-^pril  24,  1847,  the  council  levied  it  and 
made  arrangements  for  the  schools.  Each 
ward  was  made  a  district  under  the  super- 
vision of  a  trustee.  Houses  were  rented 
and  teachers  employed,  the  schools  being 
frt^  only  fur  one  quarter  each  year  under 
the  State  law.  Donations  of  lots  and  money 
Were  asked,  and  the  thanks  of  the  council 
extended,  in   December,  1S47,  to   Thomas 


D.  Gregg,  for  a  gift  of  $100.  Lots  were 
purchased  at  I'rom  SoOO  to  $500  In  the  seven 
wards  in  184S-'J,  and  in  1851-2  plain,  cheap, 
one  story  brick  structures,  so  planneil  that 
additional  stories  could  afterward  be  added, 
were  built  in  five  of  the  wards.  Those  in 
the  second,  fourth  and  sixth  wards,  Iiad  two 
rooms  each,  and  in  the  others  but  one  room 
each.  A  second  story  was  added  to  the 
first,  second  and  fifth  ward  liouses  in  1S-54-G, 
and  all  except  the  old  seventh  ward  lumse 
have  since  been  enlarged  or  raised.  A  good 
two  story  house  was  built  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  seventh  (now  in  the  eighth,) 
ward  in  1857,  and  it  was  raised  an  addition- 
al story  in  1865.  Lots  were  bought  in  the 
fourtli  and  present  ninth  wards  in  1S57,  and 
in  1S65-6  large,  well  finished,  three  story 
buildings,  with  basetnents,  were  erected  on 
them  at  a  cost  of  about  $32,000  each.  Oiht-r 
lots  have  been  purchased  for  sites,  and  in 
view  of  the  future  extension  of  the  city  be- 
yond the  donation  it  would  be  good  pulley 
to  secure  sites  for  future  liou.-es  on  or  beyond 
the  present  boundaries  of  the  city.  In 
1867-S  a  large,  fotir  story  building,  with 
basement,  was  erected  in  the  south  part  of 
the  sixth  ward  and  will  cost,  whun  fully 
completed,  about  $43,000.  It  is  at  present 
the  largest  and  finest  school  building  in  the 
city.  The  houses  recently  built  are  well 
designed,  well  finished,  and  liave  far  more 
architectural  jiretensions  than  the  earlier 
ones.  Additional  buildings  are  still  needed 
as  tlie  sclu/ols  from  the  start  have  been 
much  cramped  for  room. 

The  first  tax  lew,  in  1847,  produced  $1,- 
981;  that  of  1848,  $2,385;  that  of  1849, 
82,851.  In  1850  tlie  fund  amounted  to 
$6,160,  $5,938  of  which  sum  was  spent  that 
year  and  the  beginning  of  the  next  for  lots 
and  buildings.  The  tax  produced  a  larger 
sum  each  year  with  the  increased  growth  of 
the  chy,  and  in  1857  yielded  $20,329.  At 
first  the  entire  amount  was  expended  for 
buildings,  the  teachers  being  paid  by  tuition 
lees,  but  after  the  first  houses  were  fini.-hed 
the  annual  return  was  mostly  expended  in 
salaries,  the  schools  being  kept  open  longer, 
more  teachers  employed  and  better  salaries 
paid. 

In  1847  the  several  wards  were  constitut- 
ed independent  districts,  each  under  the 
supervision  of  a  trustee,  and  schools  were 
oiiened  in  the  fall  of  that  year  or  spring  of 
1848,  in  rented  houses.  This  continued  till 
.January,  1853,  when  tlie  council  elected 
Henry"?.  Coburn,  Calvin  Fletcher  and 
Henry  F.  We=t,  a  board  cf  trustees  under 
the  new  law,  giving  them  the  sole  control 
and  management  of  the  city  schools.  A 
code  of  rules  wa.s  drawn  up  by  Calvin 
Fletclier,  arranjrements  made,  and  on  the 
25th  of  April  the  free  schools  were  opened 


(6) 


-  I 


50 


HISTORY   OF 


for  the  first  time,  two  male  and  twelve  fe-  daily  attendance.  The  schools  were  gradc<l 
male  teacher?'  being  employed.  Until  that  a.s  primary,  secondary,  iiitermcdiate,\ram- 
date  the  number  of  pupils  had  averaged  mar  and  hicrh  schools.  The  svstem  w.^s 
only  310,  but  by  the  first  of  May  the  atten- working  prosperously  and  a  brildit  career 
dance  rose  to  7U0,  and  over  l,UOu  out  of  the  seemed'cen.iinly  before  it  when  the  supreme 
2,600  children  in  the  city  were  enrolled. 'court  decision  on  the  tax  quc-tion  in  Janu- 
Until  the  election  of  this  board  of  tru.-tees  ary,  lSo8,  .'Struck  a  fatal  blow  at  the  whole 
the  schools  had  been  conducted  indepen-, fabric.  Tiie  city  council  was  immediately 
dently,  M-ifhout  a  common  system,  texttconvened  to  consider  the  question.  It  called 
books  or  course  of  study.  At  the  request 'raeeting:s  of  citizens  in  the  several  wards  to 
of  the  trustees  the  principals  of  the  leading  devise  measures  bv  which  tlie  schools  could 
private  schools  prepared  a  list  of  text  book's  be  continued.  The  meetings  were  held 
and  a  course  of  instruction  which  was  adopt-' January  2'Jth,  and  1,100  scholarships  were 
ed  and  sub-equently  followed.  In  August 'subscribed  amounting  to  S3, 000,  and  it  wa.s 
tlie  graded  system  was  adopted,  and  thelresolved  to  sustain  the  free  system  for  the 
high  scliool,  for  more  advanced  pupils,  w;i5  current  quarter,  and  as  a  pav" svstem  after- 
opened  September  1st,  by  E.  P.  Cole,  with; ward.  The  schools  were  closed,  however, 
one  assistant,  in  the  old  county  seminary,; at  the  end  of  the  quarter,  the  superinten- 
which  had  been  repaired  and  reiitted  for, dent  and  teachers  lelt  for  other  points,  and 
the  purpose.  From  this  date  to  February,  > the  houses  remained  vacant  or  used  ocea- 
1855,  the  system  was  under  the  sole  super-sionally  tor  private  schools  for  a  year  or  two 
vision  of  tlie  trustees,  who  served  withoutjafterward. 

compensation  and  almost  without  thanks,!  No  free  schools  were  opened  in  1S59.  A 
to  tlic  detriment  of  their  private  interests, |small  tax  was  levied  for  the  repairs  of 
but  they  persevered  in  the  work,  overcame' houses  and  furniture,  and  I'rom  the  State 
all  oltetacles,  and  at  last  interested  the  peo-^fund  free  terms  of  eighteen  weeks  each  were 
pie  in  the  enterprise.  The  work,  however,4ield  in  iJ-GO  and  1861.  Tlie  svstem  was 
proved  too  grea.t,  and  at  their  request  llie:reorgani7.ed  under  the  law  of  1862,  and  a 
council  in  February,  1855,  elected  Sila-s  T.|tcnn  of  twenty-two  weeks  held  that  year 
Bowen  superintendent,  at  a  salary  of  S400;and  since  that  date  it  has  been  gradually 
per  annum,  (which  he  earned  twice  over, )' regaining  the  ground  occupied  In  1S58. 
requiring  him  to  give  a  large  share  of  his; Prof.  George  "W.  IIoss  acted  as  superintend- 
time  to  the  duties  of  the  office.  He  effected;ent  in  1SG2-3,  having  29  teachers  employed 
a  marked  improvement,  but  it  was  soonjand  2,374  pupils  enrolled.  In  September, 
evident  that  the  duties  required  more  labor!  1863,  the  system  was  again  reorganised,  A. 
and  time  than  he  could  bestow,  and  the^C.  Shortridge  being  elected  .-upcrintendent, 
council,  in  March,  1856,  appointed  George  and  since  that  date  lull  terms  of  thirty-nine 
B.  Stone  (who  had  succeeded  E.  P.  Cole  asl weeks  have  been  held  each  year.  The 
principal  of  the  high  school,)  superinten-'schools  are  graded  as  primary,  intermediate 
dent  at  a  salary  of  81,000  a  year,  requiring;and  high,  with  four  subordinate  grades  (A. 
him  to  give  all  his  time  to  the  schools.  HejB.  C.  and  D.  i  in  each.  Common  text  books 
at  once  p^erfected  the  system,  adopted  im-jare  used  in  the  similar  grades,  and  all  the 
proved  methods  of  teaching,  held  meetings ^cjiildren  in  any  given  subordinate  grade  of 
of  tlie  teachers  and  examined  and  drilled  all  the  schools  are  simultaneously  pursuing 
them  for  tlieir  work,  inspired  tli>;-m  witli  his  the  same  course  of  study,  irraduating  from 
own  zeal  and  energy,  and  made  the  system ;tlie  lower  to  tiie  higher  su!>ordinate  grades, 
so  thorough  and  popular  that  the  prejudice  and  from  the  primary  to  the  intermediate 
which  had  existed  against  it  died  out.  The 'and  thence  to  the  high  school,  the  whole 
school  tax  was  willingly  paid,  and  the  pri-icourse  requiring  twelve  years,  (ten  months 
vate  schools  sank  into  tiie  back  ground  or|in  each  year,)  and  giving  the  pupils  a 
languished  for  want  of  llieir  former  sup-;thorough  English  education.  Daily  regis- 
port.  With  the  increasing  revenue  better  Iters  are  kept  showing  the  conduct,  atten- 
salaries  (ranging  from  S-JOO  to  S600,)  werejdance  and  si-holarship  of  each  puj'Il,  and  a 
paid,  the  terms  were  lengthened,  more  given  average  nnist  be  attained  before  pro- 
teachers  engaged,  35,  mostly  females,  being: motion  to  a  higher  grade  is  granted.  The 
employed  in  1857.  The  average  attendance, registers  thus  kept  show  a  great  improve- 
of  pujiils  had  risen  from  340  in  April,  lS53,'ment  in  attendance  and  scholarship  in  the 
to  1,400  in  1856,  and  1,800  in  1857.     The! last  three  years. 

total  number  enrolled  at  that  date  was  about]  The  school  buildings  and  the  whole  sys- 
2,800.  Ten  houses  were  occupied,  seatingitem  are  controlled  by  three  trustees  elected 
comfortably  only  1,200,  but  crowded  with. by  the  city  council,  but  accountable  for  their 
1,800  pupils.  Forty-four  per  cent,  of  the  acts  and  expenditures  to  tiie  county  corn- 
children  in  the  city  were  enrolkrl,  and  73'raissioners  and  the  sujx;rintendent  of  imblic 
per  cent,  of  those  enrolled  were  in  avcrage|instruction.     They  have  charge  ot  the  ex- 


Iicnditures  for  buikhncr>,  tuition,  eraploy-l  wards,  under  (he  snpervision  of  ^cvon  trus- 
ment  ot  teachers,  .Vc;  tlie  exfen.liturts  ht-  tees,  one  to  each  district  or  ward.  V  hoard 
111.2;  made  from  two  separate  lun.b,  one  of  three  trustees  was  then  elected  hv  the 
being  lor  buildinirs  and  repairs,  the  olherioouncil  to  take  chnr-e  of  the  entire  ^^^tcm 
for  tuition,  and  derived  partly  from  the  State'and  retained  the  control  of  it  till  -Vpfil  !'>' 
school  lund_  and  partly  irom  a  spet.'ial  citya,S61.  %vhen  (under  the  new  hw)  an  ordi- 
tax.  The  immediate  raana-enient  of  the| nance  was  passed  making  the  wards  di^tric'= 
schools  devolve^  on  a  superintendent,  whoand  requiring  the  voters  of  each  of  tlie  seven 
devotes  his  whole  time  to  them  and  receives;  wards  to  elect  a  school  tni4re  fr.r  their 
a  salary  of  S'2O0O.  The  teachers  (sixty-two! ward.  They  were  elected  in  Mav  of  that 
of  whom  are  now  employed,  three  male  andlyear  for  two  vears.  This  svstem  continued 
fitty-nme  lemale,)  receive  salaries  ranging  "tiU  April,  1865,  when,  under  the  law  of  tiiat 
from  S400  to  ^,00,  and  are  only  employed ^-ear,  the  council  elected  three  trustee-  W 
after  a  thorough  examination  of  their  oual-iH.  L.  Xohlc,  T.  B.  Elliott  and  C.  Vonne- 
iHcations  for  the  position.  I  mpr  o  ved'gut,  who  have  since  been  continued  in  office 
methods  ot  instructioa  have  been  prc.mptlyand  had  the  entire  management  of  our  citv 
adopted,  object  teachin-.  gymnastics,  music.Uchool  svstem.  The  citv  is  greatly  indehte^l 
penmanship  and  other  branches,  are  taughtito  the  "earlv  trustees  '(prominent  among 
by  special  instructors,  who  visit  the  schools^whom  were"}Ienrv  F.  AVest,  Ilenrv  P.  Co- 
in turn  fur  that  purp.>se.  Jburn,  Calvin  Fletcher,  sr.,  Silas  T".  Bowen, 
The  lollowing  table  shows  the  numl:>er  of  David  V.  CuUev,  David  S.  Beattv  and  Jno. 
houses,  teachers,  children  enrolled  in  the  B.  Dillon.)  for  their  zeal,  ener<:v";<nd  i>erse- 
schools,    average    number    enrolled,    daily  verance   under   verv  discouraging   circum- 


average  attendance  and  per  cent,  of  atten- 


stances.  and   to  the  present    board,  Messrs. 


dance  frrmi  1S63  to  the  present  time.  Noj Noble.  Elliott  and  Vonnegut,  for  reviving 
reliable  returns  exist  as  to  the  total  numhenand  carrving  forward  the  svstem.  Silas  T. 
of  children  of  school  age  (6  to  21,)  in  theJBowen,  George  B.  Stone,  George  "W.  Ho.ss 
city  for  the  several  years,  and  no  records  and  A.  C.  Shortridge,  have  been  the  super- 
intendents. To  Mr.  Stone  belongs  the  cred- 
it for  perfecting  the  svstem  and  demrmstrat- 
ed,  4, -200  children  can  he  accommcHiated'ing  its  u^^efulness,  and  to  Mr.  Shortridge  its 
with  seat.s,  and  75  or  SO  teachers  can    be  revival    and    present    efficiency.     The   city 


exist  as  to  above  items  for  the  years  1S53-8 
When  the  new  sixth  ward  building  is  open 


employed. 


IS'-.-i-i 

30 

2..-'.Tl 

l,2i',n 

SG 

18>lt-o 

2S 

2,'.:^1 

1.42S 

92 

lSi;.-,-r, 

9 

:u 

3,2  !2 

1,1-,.  1(1 

91.1 

ibiy,.' 

U 

oS 

4,3'.i'J 

2,'iiC, 

94.2 

lf>iJ7-8 

12 

02 

■l,;uo 

3,137 

93.3 

In    September,    1853,    when    tlie    graded 
system  was  adopted,  the  schools  were  rated 


J.  Squier  and  W.   A.    Bell.     The   present 
salary  is  SI, 600. 

From  1847  to  Jamiary,  1853,  the  scr.ools 
were  conducted  indci^ndently  in  tlie  seven 


may  well  be  prnud  of  the  system,  and  of  the 
thoroughly  drilled  corps  of  instructors  new 
employed,  and  with  continued  careful  man- 
agement the  free  schools  will  be  among  the 
first  of  her  future  glories. 

In  May,  1847,  the  Grand  Masonic  Lodge 
bought  a  lot  at  the  south-east  corner  of 
Washincrton  and  Tennessee  streets  .".nd 
formed  a  s^tock  company  to  build  a  hall.  A 
plan  drawn  by  J.  AVillis,  architect,  having 
been  accepted,  the  corner-stone  was  laid 
with  appropriate  ceremonies  October  25th, 


primar%',  intermediate,  grammar  3nd:1848,  and  the  hall  built  in  1849-50  at  a  cost 
hi^rh  schoo'l,  the  last  being  opened  in  thejof  about  $20,000.  It  was  opened  in  the 
old  seminarv  building,  on  the  first  of  .Sep- 'spring,  but  not  finished  till  the  fall  of  1850. 
tciiiber,  hv  E.  P.  Cole,  with  one  a,'=si.-tant.;and  was  finally  dedicated  by  the  Grand 
It  was  held  there  till  the  downfall  of  theilxidge  May  27th,  1851.  The  concert  room 
schools  in  1858.  It  wa.s  re-established  in'in  the -econd  story  was  the  first  large  hall 
1864,  and  held  at  the  first  ward  hou-e.  andiopened  here  for  public  meetings,  and  was 
from  the  sprin?  of  1867  in  the  old  Secondlin  alm.st  con.=tant  use  from  the  time  of  its 
Presbyterian  Church  on  Circle  street,  which 'opening  till  the  erection  of  Morri.-^on's  Opera 
was  then  purchased  for  $13,500.  Thisi  Hall  on  Meridian  street  in  18G5,  since  which 
buildins;;  is  now  undergoing  alterations  anditime  it  has  been  comparatively  little  u.~ed. 
being  better  fitted  for  school  uses  at  an  ex-|The  cc^nstitutional  convention  of  1850  was 
pen.se  of  about  $4,500.  The  principals  otiheld  in  Ma.sonic  Hall,  and  nearly  all  the 
this  school  from  1853  to  1858  were  E.  P. 'conventions,  concerts,  lectures,  panorama.?, 
Cole,  Georee  B.  Stone  and  W.  B.  Henkle.innd  exhibitions,  dramatic  and  othcrwi.-e,  for 
Since  1S'J4  W.  A.  Bell,  Pleasant  Bond,  W.ififteen  years,  were  dven  in  it.     Almost  all 


the  leading  speakers,  lecturers  and  singers 
of  the  country  have  appeared  on  its  stage. 
The  stixk  in  the  building  'was  Ion?  since 
purchased   by  the  Grand  Lodge,  ar.d  it  is 


now  projio-ed  to  chanqe  and  improve  theia   flat  bar  track  till   lSoO-2,  wlien   it  was 
building.  taken  up  and  T  rail  substituted. 

A  meeiing  was  he'd  in  May  to  make  a r-  The  Madison  road  had  been  begun  in  \ 
rang?ments  for  a  formal  welcome  to  tlujl83S  by  the  vState,  the  cost  being  estimated 
Fii-st  Indiana  Eegimeut  of  Volunteers  cx-jat  f-2,240,000,  of  which  sum  the  inclined 
pected  soon  to  return  from  Mexico.  The! plane  was  to  cost  S27il,000.  Twenty-eight 
welcome  proved  a  failure,  as  the  volunteer.-! miles  were  finished  in  1841  at  a  co-t  of  SI,- 
retunicd  in  small  s(iuads  in  wagon.s  and; 000,000.  Braidium  A  Co.  leased  tlie  road 
stages  at  ditlerent  periods,  and  it  was  impos-in  April,  lSo9,  for  sixtv  per  cent,  of  the  re- 
sibie  to  divide  the  "enthusiasm"  accord- Ireipts,  the  State  keep'ing  up  rejuurs  and 
ingly.  _  I -applying  motive  power.      The   work   wa.s 

The  first  in.-talment  of  female  teacher.-  -urrcndend  to  a  corajiany  in  1S42,  and 
sent  by  Governor  Slade  from  New  England 'eomjileted  October  1st,  1847.  X.  B.  I'alm- 
arrived  here  in  June  and  were  sent  to  vari-{er,  S.  Merrill,  John  Brough,  E.  W.  II.  El- 
0U3  parts  of  the  country.  They  were  soor.ilis,  F.  O.  J.  Smith  and  others  were  presi- 
niarried,  and  others  were  afterward  sent  in 'dents  till  the  line  was  sold.  In  Januarj-, 
their  stead.  In  July,  the  remains  of  Cap-jlS54,  it  was  consolidated  with  and  operated 
tain  T.  B.  Kinder,  brought  from  Buen;  'together  with  the  I*eru  road,  but  the  ar- 
Vista  by  his  company,  were  buried  with  ruigcment  was  severed  after  a  few  months, 
military  honors  in  the  old  cemetery-.  jit  was  sold   by  the  United  States   Mar.*hal 

The  near  completion  of  the  Madison  rail-IMirch  27th,  l'8G2,  for  S325,000,  and  a  new 
road  awakened  ilie  interest  of  tlie  commim-jcompany  organized,  and  was  bought  a  year 
ity  in  such  enterprises,  and  frecjuent  raecL-jor  two  afterward  by  the  Jefiersonville  Com- 
ings Avere  held  during  tlie  summer  and  falipany,  and  has  since  been  operated  by  that 
to  advocate  roads  to  diCerent  points  anc  or::anization.  For  some  time  after  its  corn- 
organize  companies.  A  new  impetus  wa- ipLnion  this  road  paid  better  tlum  any  other 
given  to  business,  street  improvements  wen  in  the  country.  In  1852  its  stock  sold  at 
begun,  new  buildings  and  work-hops  erect-  SI. 60,  and  in  Jaiuiary,  185G,  h:.d  lallcn  to 
ed,  and  new  residents  were  met  daily  oi  twj  and  one-half  cents  on  the  dollar.  The 
the  streets.  IStite  held  stock  in  the  road  valued  at  Sl,- 

Arrangements  were  made  September  2otl  !2Xt,000,  but  was  ultimately  cheated  out  of 
at  a  citizens'  meeting  to  celebrate  the  com- 'it,  receiving  scarcely  anything  for  it. 
pletion  of  the  railroad  on  the  1st  of  October.  |  The  isolation  of  the  town  ended  with  the 
The  last  rail  was  laid  at  about  nine  o'clocl  co'npletion  of  this  road.  An  outlet  for  trav- 
that  morning,  just  as  two  crowded  excurs'on! el  and  surplus  products  at  last  existed,  and 
trains  arrived  from  below,  greeted  by  a  th3  town  became  a  centre  of  trairic  for  a 
great  crowd  of  rejoicing  natives,  many  c  f  co.isiderable  region  around  it.  "Wheat, 
whom  then  first  saw  a  locomotive  and  train,  jwiiich  had  been  selling  at  forty  cents  per 
and  who  joyously  filled  an  excursion  traii:  |b  tshel,  rose  in  a  few  weeks  to  ninety  cents, 
to  Franklin  and  back.  The  great  even  O  her  farm  products  advanced  in  propor- 
wa?i  celebrated  by  the  firing  of  cannon,  anc  ti  n,  and  goods  and  groceries  declined, 
by  a  proce-ssion  v.'hich  included  Spalding'  Trade  improved,  building  increased,  work- 
entire  circus  outfit,  Ned  Kendall's  band  ai  d  -hops  were  started,  property  advanced  in 
a  country-  cavalry  company.  An  addre.-.-;  price,  and  city  airs  were  timidly  assumed, 
was  also'delivercd  by  Governor  "\Vhitcoml  |  The  Mndison  road  exacted  such  high 
from  the  top  of  a  car  at  the  depot,  and  rn|  -ales  for  fares  and  freights,  and  for  sev- 
illumination  and  fireworks  exlubition  closed' Tal  ye.'^rs  made  such  heavy  profits  that 
the  festivities  at  night.  The  excursionists.  )ppositiou  was  Hroused ;  other  routes  were 
were  hauled  across  the  low  and  muddy  val-i  lemanded,  and  roads  to  I'ellefoutaine, 
ley  of  rogue's  run  in  carriages  and'wo(  d!  I'erre  Haute.  Peru,  Lafayete,  Lawrence- 
wagons,  and  the  fev,-  hotels  were  crowdidj  mrg  and  Jeffersonville,  were  advocated, 
with  hungry  guests.  The  depot  had  been  be  old  coiupanies  were  resuscitated,  or 
located  on  'the  high  ground  .south  of  the  lew  cLarters  obtained;  the  j. rejects  were 
creek,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  town,;  nergeiically  pushed  in  184^^-0,  meetings 
during  the  preceding  summer,  its  locatioij  fere  held,  stock  subscribed,  surveys  made 
there  lieinc:  op]iose<l  bv  many  per^nn-;  whr  '  md  coniracts  let.  In  1840-30  a  railroad 
urged  that  it  should  'front  'on  Mar\-land  '^ver  prevniled  in  the  community,  and  did 
street,  which  was  then  the  southern  seUUd,  'Ot  subside  until  eight  lines  were  corn- 
limit.  A  cluster  of  warehouses  was  built  peied,  mid  the  city  became  widely  known 
around  it,  and  for  several  vears  it  formed  a  a-  the  '-raiiroad  city'  of  the  west.  From 
.separate  settlement  uutil  "the  expansion  of; under  estimates  as  to  cost  and  over  esti- 
the  citv  included  it  in  the  b(Hlv  of  the  place-.l^^t^s  as  to  immedirite  business,  the  lines 
The  depot  was  built  in  1846-7,  the  cnginefailed  to  realize  the  hopes  of  stock!  olderg, 
house  and  shops  in  1850,  and  the  road  had,but  while  not  at  once  remunerative  to  ihena, 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818.  53 


the  gain  to  the  State  fitnl  city  wn?  very  '  but  the  frame  depot  is  still  iifci  for  way 
great.  The  construction,  in  a  few  yours,  ;  freifrbts.  The  first  depot  and  shops,  witli 
of  many  depots,  shops  and  warehouses,  dis-  ;  1,100  feet  of  track  and  five  acres  of  ground 
bursed  much  money,  ivttracted  ninny  work-  j  were  sold  in  Jul}',  lb'-J3,  for  $17,-ji.'0  to  Mr. 
men,  and  stimulated  nianuficturing  enter-  |  Farnsworth,  and  were  used  by  Farnsworth 
prises.  The  population  of  4.000  in  1847,  !  i;  Bara.ird  as  a  car  factory  from  Noreinber 
increased  to  8.100  in  IS.')0.  10,8U0  in  lSo2,  |  18o3  till  1S59.  It  then  remained  vacant 
15,000,  in  1857,  and  18,000  in  1860.  till  after  the  war  bec:an  and  was  occupied 

For  sometime  each  ro\d  u-^ed  its  owade-  !  as  a  Government  stable  from  1S62  to  1865, 
pot;  pa-'sengerg  and  freiphts  being  trans- l  when  it  was  burned  down.  The  Cellefon- 
ferred  from  one  to  the  other  by  hacks  and  i  taine  road  was  consolidated  in  Ibo 3  with 
drays,  but  a  connection  by  rail  was  soon  :  the  connecting  Ohio  line  to  Gallon.  The 
proposed,  and  an  apreement  having  been  i  stock  was  "watered''  and  the  name 
made  in  August,  184y,  between  the  compa- j  changed  to  the  Indianapolis,  Pittsburg  x 
nies,  and  the  right  of  way  having  been  !  Cleveland  Railroad.  In  the  spring  of  1868 
granted  December  20,  1818  by  the  council,  !  a  further  consolidation  was  effected  with 
the  Union  Railroad  Co.,  was  organized,  the  ;  the  Cleveland,  Columbus  &  Cincinnati 
Union  track  located  and  laid  in  1S50,  (re-  |  road,  and  the  new  road  is  known  as  the 
laid  in  1853,)  the  ground  bought  and  a  |  Cleveland,  Columbus,  Cincinnati  &  In- 
Union  passenger  depot,  120  by  420  feet,  |  dianapolis  Railroad.  0.  H.  Smith,  Alfred 
built  in  1852-3,  on  .Meridian.  Illinois  and  I  Harrison,  Calvin  Fletcher,  John  Brough. 
Louisiana  streets.  It  was  opened  Seplem-  j  S.  Wiu,  and  others,  have  been  Presidents  of 
ber  28,  1853,  William  \.  Jackson  being  |  this  corporation  since  its  charter.  It  has 
appointed  general  ticket  agent,  a  post  I  been  one  of  the  best  freight  and  passenger 
ever  since  held  by  him.  It  has  since  been  j  roads  leading  to  this  point, 
used  by  eight  separate  lines,  and  was  en-  |  The  Lawrencebura:  and  upper  Mississip- 
larged,  improved  and  an  eating  house  '  pi  road  was  originally  begun  in  sections, 
added  in  1866.  In  December,  l^'jl.  the  '  or  several  short  roads,  in  1850,  a  through 
Junction  Railroad  Co.,  and  the  Crawfords-  ''•  road  being  bitterly  and  successfully  op- 
ville  and  Vincennes  lines  unsuccessfully  !  posed  by  the  .Madison  Co.,  but  was  finally 
applied  for  admission  to  the  depot,  and  it  i  chartered  in  1851  and  finished  to  Law- 
is  possible  that  a  Union  passenger  station  ;  renceburg,  90  miles,  in  October  1853,  un- 
will  yet  be  erected  in  the  western  part  of  !  der  Geo.  H.  Dunn,  the  first  president.  The 
the  city.  Such  a  depot  will  ultimately  be  j  name  was  changed  December  1853  to  the 
erected,  for  the  present  one  can  not  accom- :  Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  road.  The 
modate  all  the  business  of  the  future.  j  Ohio  and  Mississippi  road  having  been  fin- 

A  brief  statement  of  the  history  of  the  \  ished  from  Cincinnati  to  Lawrenceburg  in 
several  roads  projected  and  built  since  the  j  .April  1854,  a  third  rail  was  laid  and  the 
-Madison  road,  may  be  given  here.  Promi-  i  cars  run  to  that  city,  110  miles,  under  a 
nent  among  these  w:is  the  Btdlefontaine  i  lease.  In  1854-5  the  old  White-water  ca- 
road  to  Union  City  on  the  State  line,  which  ]  nal  was  bought,  and  a  separate  track  laid 
was  energetically  pushed  by  the  first  Pres-  i  in  its  bed,  and  a  fine  passenger  and  freight 
idcnt,  Oliver  H.  Smith,  its  construction  |  depot  built.  The  shops  of  the  corn- 
being  largely  due  to  his  efforts.  It  was  i  pany  were  built  south-east  of  the  city  in 
chartered  in  1S48,  meetings  held,  stock  sub-  I  1S53,  but  were  burned  in  1855,  and  soon  af- 
scribed  and  right-of-way  secured  in  1S4S-  i  terward  rebuilt.  They  were  removed  to 
9;  contracts  were  let  in  the  fall  of  1849,  I  Cincinnati  in  1865  and  are  now  located 
track-laying  began  April,  1850,  cars  ran  to  lihere.  The  brick  freight  depot  was  built 
Pendleton,  twenty-eight  miles,  December,  on  Louisiana  and  Delaware  streets  in  1853, 
1850,  and  the  road  v.-as  finished,  eighty-  I  and  is  now  used  by  the  consolidated  roads. 
four  CBiles,  to  the  State  line,  December  |  In  1S66,  after  an  effort  to  build  a  rival  line 
1852,  at  a  cost  of  $21,550  per  mile.  The  I  via  Crawfordsville  to  Lafayette,  a  consoli- 
brick  depot  and  shops  were  built  in  1851,  j  dation  was  effected  with  the  Lafiyette  road 
in  the  north-east  part  of  tiie  city  and  j  and  the  name  adopted  for  the  united  corpo- 
used  till  the  Union  depot  and  track  were  '  ration  is  Indianapolis,  Cincinnati  and  La- 
finished,  when  a  frame  freight  di'pot  and  ;  fayeite  road^  Branch  roads  have  been 
brick  engine  house  and  shops  were  built  in  ;  built  up  the  Whitewater  valley  on  the  ca- 
November,  1853,  at  the  corner  of  Virginia  ;  nal  bank,  and  from  Fairland  to  .Martins- 
avenue  and  Pogue's  run.  Tliese  were  used  i  ville,  and  in  March  1868  a  consolidation 
till  1S64  when  the  large  frame  freigVit  de-  I  was  effected  with  the  Vincennes  road. — 
pot  and  brick  shops  and  engine  house  were  |  Much  opposition  was  aroused  by  this  last 
completed  and  occupied  in  the  eastern  part  !  movement,  but  Mr.  Lord,  in  a  speech  to  our 
of  tlie  city.  The  engine  house  and  shops  ;  business  men,  in  April  1838,  greatly  al- 
■  on  Virginia  avenue  were  then  torn  away,  |  layed   the   feeling,   and   promised  that  his 


HISTORY  OF 


policy  should  not  prove  detrimental  to  the 
interests  of  this  city.  Geo.  H.  Dunn,  Thos. 
A.  Morris  and  Henry  C.  Lord  have  been 
presidents  of  this  corporation. 

Tiie  Jeffersonville  road  was  begun  in 
1S48  and  finished  to  Editibur<ih,  7S  miles, 
in  lSr^■2,  at  a  cost  of  §1, 18-3,000.  It  b:;d 
been  designed  to  extend  to  this  point,  but 
in  August  1853  a  lease  Tras  obtained  from 
the  Madison  roid,  by  which  the  use  of  that 
road  with  its  shops,  depots  and  iiouses  wa^ 
perpetually  secured,  and  in  ISoo  the  Jef- 
fersonville company  bought  the  entire  road 
and  equipment  and  now  operate  both  line-!. 
A  branch  road  was  built  in  lSo2  from  Ed- 
inburgh to  Shelbyville  and  Rushville,  2o 
miles,. at  a  cost  of  io2-j.000,  but  was  after- 
ward abandoned.  The  war  trafhc  and 
travel  was  immense  over  the  .JeQersonville 
road,  it  being  the  only  direct  southern  line 
leading  to  the  seat  of  war.  John  Zulauf, 
Dillard  Ricketts  and  others,  have  been  its 
presidents. 

The  Terre  Haute  and  Richmond  road  was 
projected  in  184G,  surveyed  December  1817, 
contracts  let  in  1813-9,  commenced  in  18-jO, 
and  finished  to  Terre  Haute,  73  miles,  in 
May  1852,  at  a  cost  of  $1,415,000,  under 
Chauncy  Rose,  its  firstj  president.  The 
eastern  section  was  abandoned  and  its  con- 
etruciion  undertaken  by  the  Indiana  Cen- 
tral Railway  Co.  in  1851.  The  brick  freight 
depot  (remodeled  in  1857,)  was  built  on 
Louisiana  and  Tennessee  streets  in  1850-1. 
Its  roof  was  partly  blown  off  in  1865  by  the 
explosion  of  the  pony  engine  of  the  Cen- 
tral company,  inside  the  building.  The 
engine  house  and  tlie  fiame  bridge  over 
White  river  were  built  in  1851-2,  and  the 
bridge  was  replaced  by  a  handsome  iron 
structure  in  180*3,  without  interrupting 
trafiBc  on  the  line.  The  road  has  been 
prosperous,  well  managed,  has  met  with 
few  accidents,  and  is  the  main  line  for 
western  trade  and  travel.  It  is  bIso  the 
only  coal  road  yec  buili.  The  company 
have  no  shops  here,  the  repairs  being  made 
at  Terre  Haute.  Chauncy  Rose,  S.  (Craw- 
ford, E.  J.  Peck  and  others,  have  been  its 
Presidents. 

The  Peru  and  Indianapolis  road  w^.s 
chartered  at  the  session  of  1645-6,  the  com- 
pany organized  July  1847,  road  surveyed 
October  1847,  located  July  1843,  com- 
menced 1849,  cars  were  run  to  Noblesville, 
21  miles,  March  1851,  and  the  road  com- 
pleted to  Peru,  73  miles,  .April  3,  1854,  at 
a  cost  of  about  i^TGO^OOO.  It  was  con- 
solidated June  1,  1854,  with,  and  operated 
for  several  months  by  the  Madison  road. 
The  road  traversed  a  new  country,  encoun- 
tered many  obstacles,  and  has  not  been  as 
successful  as  other  lines.  It  has  been  the 
main  source  of  supply  for  lumber  and  tim- 


ber,   and    since    its  northern  connections 
were    finished    has  had   a  fair  share  of  the 
north-western  trade  and  travel.     It  passed 
into    a    receiver's    hands  in    1857,  and  has 
since  been  operated  for  the  bondholders. — 
Its   shops    are    at    Peru,  nnd    its  buildings 
here  have  never  been  of  much  value.     It 
was  originally  laid  with  flat  bar,  taken  np 
from  tlie  Madison  road,  but  Trail  was  sub- 
stituted in  1855-6.      The    first  frame  dtpot 
was  commenced   in  August,   18ii6,  on  New 
Jersey    street    and    Pogue's    run,  but    was 
blown  down  during  a  storm,  September  17, 
burying  about  a  dozen  men  in  the  ruins, 
'  and  badly   injuring  several  of  them.     An- 
other was  built  in  !^^ovembe^   t'ollowing. — 
I  VV.  J.  Holman,  Jno.  Burk.  E.  W.  H.  Ellis,  J. 
1  D.     Defrees  and    David  .Macy,  have    been 
i  presidents. 

1  The  Lafayette  nnd  Indianapolis  road  was 
I  begun  in  184'J  and  finished  to  Lafayette, 
j  65  miles,  in  December  1652,  at  a  cost  of 
j  about  $l,00O,Otj0,  under  Albert  S.  "White, 
[  the  first  president.  The  stock  subscription 
I  was  small,  tlie  road  being  mostly  built  by 
1  loans  which  were  subsequently  paid  otf 
I  from  the  earnings  of  the  road,  making  its 
stock  very  valuable.  Until  the  completion 
I  of  the  northern  connections  of  the  Peru 
i  road  it  was  the  main  route  to  the  north- 
I  west,  and  did  a  very  lucrative  business  du- 
;  ring  the  war.  In  1866  Henry  C.  Lord 
i  iiaving  failed  to  buy  the  road  or  effect  a 
i  consolidation  with  it,  began  the  consiruc- 
1  tion  of  a  rival  route  to  Danville  and  the 
1  north-west  via  Crawfordsville,  and  after 
i  doing  considerable  work  achieved  his  ob- 
i  ject,  and  obtained  a  perpetual  lease  of  the 
line,  and  it  is  now  controlled  and  operated 
j  by  the  Cincinnati  company.  The  Lafay- 
;  ette  freight  depot  was  buili  in  1852-3,  on 
I  North  street  and  the  canal,  but  was  burned 
I  in  1864,  and  rebuilt  in  1865.  Since  the 
I  consolidation  it  has  been  but  little  used, 
i  the  business  of  both  roads  being  done  at 
the  Delaware  street  depot.  The  company 
I  never  liad  any  shops  at  this  point,  the  con- 
'  struction  and  repairs  bcins  done  at  Lafay- 
;  ette.  A.  S.  White  and  Wm.  F.  Reynolds, 
j  were  the  presidents  of  the  company. 

The  Indiana  Central  Railway  Company 
I  was  organized  in  the  spring,  surveys 
j  made  in  the  summer,  and  contracts  let  in 
the  fall  of  1851.  Track-laying  began  No- 
vember, 1852,  and  the  road, was  completed 
to  the  State  line,  seventy-two  miles,  De- 
cember 8.  1853,  at  a  cost  of  81,223,000, 
under  John  S.  Newman,  the  first  President. 
It  divides  eastern  trade  and  travel  with 
the  Dellefontaine  road,  and  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  Ohio  connecting  road  in 
1863,  and  afterwards  known  as  the  Indi- 
anapolis &  Columbus  road.  A  further 
consolidation   was   etfected  in   1867,    with- 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


the  Chicago  and  GrcAt  Eastern  roal,  find 
the  offices  and  shops  are  to  he  removed 
elsewhere.  The  brick  freight  depot  was 
built  on  Delfiwnre  sireet  and  Pocue's  run 
in  \So2,  and  its  sliops  just  east  of  the  city, 
in  the  s\me  )-ear. 

At  and  since  the  date  of  completion  of 
the  f'jregoing  roads,  several  others  were 
projected,  or  in  course  of  construction; 
among  them  was  the  Junction  road,  ninety- 
eight  miles  long,  from  Hamilton,  Ohio,  via 
Rushville  and  Connorsville,  to  this  city. 
It  was  begun  in  seprtrate  sections,  in  18-50, 
by  the  Ohio  and  Indianapolis,  and  the 
Junction  (Companies,  which  were  consol- 
idated. April,  ISoo,  with  .31.800,000  stock 
subscripiion.s.  Several  hundred  thousand 
dollars  were  expended  on  the  line,  the 
depot  grounds  here  were  purchased,  and 
the  road  half  finislied,  when  the  hard 
times  of  1855-6  caused  its  suspension  and 
the  sale  of  its  lands  at  a  nominal  price. 
The  company  was  re-org\nized  in  18G6, 
work  was  resumed,  a  subsidy  of  ■$4.5,0')0 
voted  to  it  by  our  citj-,  depot  grounds 
bought,  and  the  road  finished  to  this  point 
in  May,  18tJS.  The  freight  depot  will  be 
built  on  Virginia  avenue,  south  of  Poguc's 
run,  and  the  shops  nnd  offices  are  to  be 
located  here  by  contract  with  the  city. 
Caleb  B.  Smith,  Jno.  Ridenour  and  others 
have  been  Presidents  of  the  Company. 

The  Vinccnnes  road  was  first  projected 
in  1851,  and  a  compan}'  organized  in  1853, 
with  John  H.  Bradley,  President;  but 
only  a  preliminary  survey  was  made,  and 
the  enterprije  was  ab:indoned  during  the 
subsequent  monetary  revulsion.  .\  new 
company  was  organized  under  General 
Burnside,  in  ISHo,  the  contracts  let,  and  a 
subsidy  of  S60.000  granted  by  the  city  in 
18GG,  and  right  of  way  secured ;  work  is 
now  being  rapidly  prosecuted  along  the 
line,  and  the  road  will  be  finished  from 
Gosport  to  this  city  during  the  present 
year.  The  shops  and  ottices,  by  agree- 
ment with  the  city,  are  to  be  located  here. 
The  road  traverses  the  best  iron,  coal, 
stone,  timber  aud  grain  region  of  the 
State,  and  will  be  second  to  none  in  im- 
portance, and  it  is  all  important  that  its 
management  should  not  be  adverse  to  our 
interests.  On  the  3d  of  .\pril,  ISoS,  it 
was  consolidated  with  the  Cincinnati  road. 

A  direct  road  to  Ev.insville,  one  hundred 
and  fifcy  miles  long,  had  been  projected  in 
181'.;t,  but  nothing  vras  done  till  April,  IS53, 
when  Oliver  H.  Smith  and  Willard  Car- 
penter organized  a  company  under  the 
general  law,  and  held  meetings,  subscribed 
stock,  surveyed  the  line,  let  contracts,  and 
pushed  the  work  rapidly  forward  till  1  85G, 
when  the  monetary  pressure  stopped  the 
enterprise,  and  caused  the  loss  of  nearly 


everything  invested  in  it.  It  is  still  dor- 
mant, but  its  importance,  and  the  rich  ag- 
ricultural and  mineral  region  it  traversed, 
the  auiouQt  expended  on  it,  and  the  heavy 
soui'ii-wesleru  trade,  certainly  dem  lud  a 
renewal  of  the  enterprise,  and  its  favora- 
ble consideration  by  our  people,  e-ipeiialiy 
since  the  raanageiueut  of  the  Vincennes 
road  will  probably  be  adverse  to  our  in- 
terests. 

The   Cincinnati    i    Indianapolis    Sliort- 
liiie    llailroad    Company,   from    this    point 
via  Rushville,    Laurel    aud    Brookville    to 
Cii\cinnat!,     was    organized    in    January, 
1853 ;    subscriptions   were    obtained,    sur- 
veys   made,    contracts  let,  and  oiher   steps 
1  taken,   but   the   enterprise   was   suspended 
I  by  hard  times   in    1S54-5,   before  any  tm- 
I  gible 'results   were  obtained,   and   has   not 

since  been  revived. 
I      The    Toledo    &    Indianapolis     Railroad 
I  Compiuy.  via    Muncie  to  Toledo,  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-five  miles,  was  organized 
I  February,  1S54,    under    ilie    general    law. 
j  Seventy-five   miles    of  road,  only,  were    to 
I  be  bnlli  to  make  connections  with  e.\;isiing 
I  roads,  and  secure  a  short  and  direct  route 
i  for  grain  to  tiic  lake.     Surveys  wore  made, 
j  and    elforts    to    obtain    subscriptions,    but 
I  the  financial  pressure  of  1855  ptiL  an  end 
j  temporarily  to  the  scheme. 
I      The  Indiana  &  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
one    hundred    and    sixty  miles    long  on  an 
j  air  line,  to  Uec^tur,  Illinois,  was  proposed 
I  in  December,  1852,   and  organized    Febru- 
ary 15,    1853.     Surveys   were    made,   sub- 
scriptions obtained,    and    contracts    let  in 
July,  1853,  for  the  whole   line,   at  622,000 
per  mile,  to  be  done  in  1855,  and  $500, ')00 
of  work    was    done.     The    hard    times  in- 
tervened, the  work  stopped,  and  the  com- 
pany  lands   were  sold  to  pay  the  contrac- 
tors.    The   line  is    almost    straight,    trav- 
erses a  beautiful   and   rich   country,  opens 
up  coal  and    iron   regions,  and   gives  a  di- 
rect western  line  to  the  Pacific  road      Its 
importance     merits     renewed    etrort,    and 
the  company — which  was  re-org.-inized  in 
iSotJ — should  attempt  its  construction. 

In  18*J6,  before  the  Cincinnati  road  had 
succeeded  in  forcing  the  sale  of  the  La- 
fayette line,  11.  C.  Lord,  as  the  final  effort, 
determined  to  build  a  rival  line  via  Craw- 
fordsville.  The  city  voted  a  subsidy  of 
S-lo.OuO,  right  of  way  was  secured,  sur- 
veys made,  contracts  let,  and  cons:der.ible 
work  done  at  this  end  of  the  line,  when 
the  Lafayetto  road  consented  to  sell,  and 
the  new  line  was  at  once  abandoned.  This 
summary  disposal  of  the  matter  displeased 
the  residents  along  the  line  ;  the  company 
was  soon  le-organized,  contracts  relet, 
and  the  work  is  now  in  progre.ss.  It  is  to 
be  hoped  that  a  new  outlet   to   the    north- 


56 


HISTORY  OF 


west  will  be  speedily   found    through  the    locomotives,   cars,    and    all   other  articles 


rich  region  tr.'iyersed   by  this  line. 

In  1SG7  :in  eQort  wis  made  by  the  east- 
ern roads  to  force  ft  sale  or  consolidation 
of  the  Terre  Haute  road,  which  having 
failed,  it  w.ag    announced    ihat  a  straicrht- 


ueeded  in  tlie  equipment  of  their  roads. 
One  great  establishment,  under  competent 
management,  could  combine  the  iron  and 
brass  foundries,  rolling  mills,  laachine 
shops,  saw   and  planing   mills,  forges,   up- 


line road  to  St.  Louis  wo'ald   be  built   from  ]  holster^-,  punt  and  ether  shops,  needed  in 


this  point.  Surveys  were  made,  right  of 
way  secured,  subscriptions  voted,  and  the 
contracts,  it  is  said,  will  be  let  this  year. 
The  road  sliould  be  built,  as  it  will  tjive 
an  additional  and  competing  route  to  the 
coal  and  iron  beds  of  the  western  pan  of 
tlie  State,  i>nd   the  city  can  well  atford   to 


the  fabrication  of  every  item  used  by  them. 
Such  an  establishment,  with  the  capital  it 
could  employ,  the  thorough  subdivision  and 
supervision  of  labor,  the  extent  and  variety 
of  articles  manufactured,  the  steady  de- 
mand therefor  by  the  stockholding  roads 
and   outside  lines,  located  here  where    the 


aid  the  enterprise,  first  providing  tliai  no  I  influx  and  efliux  of  materials    and  articles 
consolidation   shall  be   made  with  compel-  i  would  be  so  ready  and  certain,  and  skilled 


ing  roads.  The  Terre  Haute  company  is 
also  engaged  in  building  a  straight  line 
from  that  city  to  St.  Louis,  as  a  continua- 
tion of  their  own  route. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  brief 
statement  of  facts  connected  with  the  sev- 
eral roads,  that  only  one  of  the  completed 


laborers,  so  readily  brought,  couid  defy 
private  competition,  furnish  all  articles  to 
its  stockholders  at  cost,  and  pay  ail  expen- 
ses and  a  protit  from  outside  work. 

But  few  mills  or  manufactories  existed 
here  till  afier  the  completion  of  the  .Madi- 
son   road,  for   the   local    demand  was  very 


lines,  (the  Bellefontaine,)    ever  located  its  I  limited,    and    shipments    to    other    points 


principal  shops  at  this  point,  and  even  that 
road,  since  its  consolidation,  has  its  main 
shops  in  Ohio.  The  excuse  advanced  for 
this  general  action  has  been  tliat  work 
could  be  done  cheaper  elsewhere;  but  this, 
even  if  true  in  one  or  two  cases,  can 
scarcely  be  true  of  every  little  town  in 
this  or  other  States,  and  the  solution  of  the 
problem  is  to  be  found  partly  in  the  jeal- 
ousy of  other  cities  toward  this,  and  mostly 
in  the  want  of  enterprise  on  the  pan  of 
our  own  people.  They  have  not  deemed  it 
necessary,  either  for  their  own  interests 
or  those  of  tho  city,  to  hold  a  controlling 
interest  in  the  highways  leading  here,  and 


almost  impossible.  UndorhilTs  foundry, 
on  Pennsylvania  street,  started  by  Grover 
in  ISo'j,  was  the  only  one  here.  The  grist 
mills  of  West  and  of  Carlisle,  West's  cot- 
ton and  woolen  mill,  Ilannaman's  woolen 
and  oil  mill,  and  Sheet's  paper  mill,  were 
on  the  canal,  and  liad  been  built  since 
1838.  Patterson's  grist  mill  was  on  Fall 
creek,  and  the  old  steam  (grist,  woolen 
and  saw)  mills,  on  the  river,  had  been  re- 
paired by  Geisendorfl's  in  1S17,  and  used 
as  a  woolen  mill  till  li^ol,  when  they  built 
a  mill  (subsequently  enlarged,)  on  the  west 
branch  of  the  canal.  Of  mills  and  manu- 
factories, built  since  1847,  the  more  prom- 


the  consequence  has  been  that  as  little  as  I  inent  may  be  briefly  mentioned  here  The 
possible  has  been  done  by  the  railways  to-  |  principal  (/ritt  mills  were  Carlisle's,  (his 
ward  building  up  our  manufacturing  inter- }  old  mill  was  burnt  January  18,  '5G,)  now 
ests.  In  many  respects  this  city  is  better  Sohl  &;  Gibson,  on  the  canal,  built  1S63; 
situated  for  nianufaciuring  than  any  other'  Underbills,  south  of  the  city,  IBol:  Skil- 
in    this    or   tlie   adjoining    States,    and    its  |  ten's,    IbGo;    Capital    mili^,    185G;    Morris' 


advantages  increase  with  the  opening  of 
every  additional  line;  and,  if  it  fails  to 
achieve  a  high  rank  in  this  respect,  the 
fault  will  lie  solely  with  our  own  capital- 
ists, and  the  blame  should  lie  where  it  be- 
longs. It  has  been  too  much  the  fashion 
here    to    wait    for    others    to    increase    the 


mills,  south  Pennsylvania  street,  1848, 
burnt  1851;  Bates'  mill.-*,  Pogue's  run, 
1859.  Of  saw  mills,  Kortpeter's,  south 
Pennsylvania  street,  1840;  Fletcher  & 
Wells,  Massachusetts  avenue,  1857;  Gay 
&  Stevens,  .Madison  depot,  1857;  Hill's, 
East  street,  1858,  burned  and  rebuilt  Octo- 


value  of  property  which  is  held  by  the  !  ber.  1859;  Off  i  Wishmire's,  Railroad 
few,  and  the  money  on  hand,  instead  of  j  street,  1858;  Helwig  &  Blake's,  canal, 
creating  wealth  by  producing  manut'ac- !  1858;  Marsee's,  New  Jersey  street,  1859; 
tured  articles  from  comparatively  valuless  I  McKernan  6c  Pierce,  Kentucky  avenue, 
raw  material,  is  doled  out  sparingly  at  j  18G5.  Of ///anw// 7?ji//.5,  Sheliaberger's,  east 
one  and  two  percent,  per  month,  taxing  !  .Market,  18o2 ;  Blake  &  Gentle's,  (the  first 
the  life  out  of  those  who  do  attempt  to  j  one  here.)  Vermont  street,  1849;  Kreglo  & 
create  such  articles.  It  spems  singular  |  Blake,  canal,  1855,  burue'I  and  rebuilt  in 
that,  while  the  railway  companies  combined  I  Aug.,  18'ji3;  Byrket's,  Tennessee  street, 
and  suci-es-^fully  operated  a  union  track  j  1857;  .McCord  &  Wheatley  s,  Alabama 
and  depot,  that  they  never  entered  into  a  |  street,  1S';5;  Tate's,  New  Jersey  street, 
union    con.pany    for    the    mauut\aclure    of  j  lot;4;    Hill  i:  Wingate's,  East  street,  1858, 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


57 


burned  in  October  and  rebuilt  November, 
l^o'J;  Builders  i:  .M:i!iuf;4ctiircrs'  Associa- 
tion, Delnw.ire  street,  18GG;  Carpenters' 
Association,  !;ouih  and  Meridian  streets, 
Ibtjij;  Emerson's,  near  the  r.anal,  1.SG3; 
Beam's,  west  Waehingion  street,  IHtJo; 
Bebynier's,  enst  Market  street,  1SG4. 

Shingle  mills,  Evarts,  south  Pennsylva- 
nia, 1867;  Smock's,  east  Washington,  18uS. 
t)f  furniture  and  chair  factories,  John 
Olt,  west  Washington,  1S55;  Sloan  &  In- 
gersoil,  IS-JU;  Espy  i:  Sloan,  1848;  John 
'V'etter,  Madison  depot,  1>57,  hurned  18G6; 
Philip  Dohu,  south  Meridian,  l^Go,  burned 
and  rebuilt,  18G7;  Spiegel  and  Thorns,  east 
Washington,  1855,  and  East  street,  1SG3, 
enlarged  to  double  size,  IbGG,  and  the  first 
five-story  house  built  in  the  city;  H  el  wig  & 
Roberts,  canal,  1857,  burned  and  retDuilt 
1&G(");  M.  S.  Huey,  west  Washington,  1855; 
Field  &  Day,  Vermont  street,  ItoO;  Wilk- 
ens  &  Hull,  west  Washington,  18G4;  C.  J. 
•  Meyer,  east  Washington,  ISGO;  Cabinet- 
makers' Union,  east  Market,  1859. 

Of  coopering  establishments,  there  h^ive 
been  Detrees,  on  the  caual,  Murphey'sand 
May'son  Eaststreet;  Careys  and Brennon's, 
near  Soldiers'  Home;  McNceleys,  near  La- 
fayette depot;    Kingans  and  otliers. 

Of  peg  and  last  factories,  Crawford  &  Os- 
good, south  Pennsylvania  street,  1848, 
and  burned  1851  ;  C^sgood  i  Smith,  south 
Illinois,  1852,  burned  and  rebuilt,  once  or 
twice  afterward  ;  Yandes  ^  Kemper,  south 
Illinois,  1SG7. 

Of  wagou  or  carriage  manufactories, 
Hiram  Gasiou,  Kentucky  avenue,  1853; 
Lowes,  east  Market,  ISGS;  Drews,  east 
Market,  1852;  Sh^vrs,  Georgia  street,  1866. 
Of  spokes  and  felloes,  Osgood  Smith  & 
Co.,  south  Illinois,  1852. 

Of  woolen  mills,  GeisendorfFs,  on  the 
canal,  1852;  Merritt  &  Coughlen,  in  Han- 
naman's  old  mill,  on  the  river,  1849  or  'iO, 
were  burned  out  in  January,  1851,  and  re- 
built in  May,  1851;  West's,  ISo'J;  Younts, 
184y,  on  the  canal. 

3  ,0f  paper  mills,  Sheets,  on  canal,   1839; 
Gay  li   Bradens,    canal,    1862;   McLean    &| 
Co.,  river,  18G1. 

(>f  cotton  taills.  West,  canal,  1839,  and 
the  Cotton  Mill  Co.,  on  the  river,  18G7. 

Of  agricultural  and  farm  implements  I 
and  machinery,  W.  M.  Cause,  185G;  Beard  ! 
&  Siuex,  and  Beard  ,;?>:  Forsha,  Tennessee  | 
street,  1857;  Hasselman  i.  Vinton,  south  I 
Meridian,  1852;  Chandler  i  Taylor,  west  | 
Washington,  1859,  burned  and  rebuilt ! 
18G3(?j;  Binkley  ^;  Co.,  south  Tennessee,! 
18GU;  Beard  ^Nc  Starr,  north  Tennessee,  j 
18G0;  Agricultural  Works  Co.,  south  Ten-  | 
nessee,  1864.  j 

Of  oil  mills,  J.  P.  Evans  5:  Co.,  south 
Delaware,  1862. 


Iron  manufactures  have  <aken  the  lead- 
ing rank   at  this  point,  and  proroiso  still 
more  rapid  growth  in  future.    The  interest 
has  risen   in   the   last  fifteen   years  from  a 
ver}-  email  beginning.     The  first  steam  en- 
gine ever  built  here,  a  small  affair  of  three 
I  or  four  horse  power,  was  completed  in  June, 
I  1848,  by  .Mr.  Sergeant,  at  Bardwell's  shop, 
!  in    the   basement  of  Crawford   &   O.agooil's 
j  factory,  on  south  Pennsylvania  street.    The 
I  first  foundry   in   the   plice   was  started   in 
'  July,  1832,  by  R.  A.  .McPhorson  ,t  Co.,  near 
'  the  bridge,  west  of  t!ie  river.  Joshua  Glover 
j  had  been  doing  some  iron  work  on  a  small 
I  scale    in    1831.      Underbill,    Woo'l    &    Co. 
I  started  a  foundry  in  July,  lS3o,  on  north 
I  Pennsylvania  street,  and  in   18S8,  Under- 
i  hill  applied  steam  power  in  it,  being  the 
I  first  to  use  it  in  a  foundry  here.     He  man- 
ufactured plow  points,  skillets,  and   other 
small  castings,  remaining  there  till  18-'>2, 
when  he  built  a  large    foundry  on    south 
Pennsylvania  street,  and   failing  iu  busi- 
ness the  building  was  applied  to  other  pur- 
poses, and  burned  up  in  November,  1S5S. 
Taylor,  Walson  &  Co.,  in  1848  built  a  small 
foundry  in  the  low  ground  south  of  Pogue's 
run,  and  first  began  to  make  steam  engines 
here  in  1849.     This  establishment    subse- 
quently passed  into  FLisselman  &  Vinton's 
hands,    who    built     the     present    foundry, 
boiler  and  machine  shops   in'    1852.     The 
firm  suffered  heavy  losses  in  -May,  and  also 
in  July,  1553,  from  fires.     In   18G5  the  es- 
tablishment passed  into  the  control  of  the 
Eagle  Machine  Works  Co.,  who   now  carry 
on  a  heavy  business  in  the  manufacture  of 
castings,   boilers  and    agricultural    imple- 
ments, their  trade  extending  over  a  large 
territory,  and   employing  a  heavy  capital. 
In  March,  1854,  Wright,  Barnes  &   Co.,  af- 
terward  Ira   Davis   &   Co.,  built  a  foundry 
on  Delaware  street  and  Pegue's  run,  which 
burned  down  in   1857.     Curtis  &  Dumont 
began  the  manufacture  of  boilers  on  south 
Pennsylvania  street  in  1852,  next  north  of 
Underbill's  foundry,  and  Kelshaw  tV  Sinker 
began  the  same  business  at  about  the  same 
time,  just  south  of  the  same  foundry.   Their 
shop  was  burned  in  December,  1853,  and 
rebuilt  in  1854.     Dumont  ^"i  Sinker  became 
partners,  continuing  the  business,  and  add- 
ing a  foundry.     In  18G3,  Dumont  left,  and 
the  establishment,  now  greatly  enlarged,  is 
carried  on  as  a  foundry,  machine  shop  and 
boiler  factory,  on  the  site  of    Underbill's 
old  City  Foundry,  by  Sinker,  Allen  cS:  Yan- 
des.    In    1851,  Deloss  Root   6:  Co.,  built  a 
small    frame   stove   foundry,    south  of  the 
Gas  Works  on  Pennsylvania  street.    It  was 
burned  up  in  January,  ISGO,  but  soon  re- 
built of   brick  on  a  much   more  extended 
scale,  and  stoves,  heavy  casting-)   and  boil- 
ers, are  now  largely  manufactured  by  the 


HISTORY  OF 


establishment.  Wiggins  &  Chandler,  in 
June,  185y,  built  a  small  foundry  and 
machine  shop  on  the  Canal  and  west 
Washington  street.  It  was  burned  in 
1SG3,  (?)  but  soon  after  rebuilt  on  a  more 
extended  scale  by  Chandler  &  Taylor,  and 
has  since  done  a  laree  busines".  In  ISoS, 
Redstone,  Bros.  &  Co.,  started  a  foundry 
and  machine  «hop  on  Delarrare  street  south 
of  the  Union  track,  making  small  castings 
and  sawing  machines.  Spotts  li  Thompson 
started  a  foundry  near  the  same  place  in 
1S59,  but  both  establisments  were  shortly 
afterward  burned.  The  Hoosier  Stove 
Foundry  was  built  in  ISGl,  by  Cos,  Lord  &; 
Peck,  on  Delaware  street  and  Pogue's  run, 
and  was  operated  by  tbera  for  two  or  three 
years  and  then  discontinued.  It  passed  into 
the  hands  of  A.  D.  \Voud  in  1S67,  and  is 
DOW  carried  ou  by  him.  Ruschaupt  ic  Co. 
built  a  large  foundry  and  machine  shop  on 
South  Meridian  street  in  Itioj,  but  as  they 
soon  afterv/ard  became  interested  in  the 
Eagle  Machine  Work?,  the  establishment 
was  vacated,  and  is  now  used  by  the  Car- 
penter's Association.  Frink  i  .Moore  start- 
ed the  Novelty  V\'orks  in  ISOO,  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  small  castings,  and  have  done 
a  good  business.  A  foundry  was  started 
in  1803,  on  East  Market  street,  by  some  one. 
(unknown  to  the  writer,)  and  has  since 
mainly  been  doing  railroad  work.  B.  F. 
Hetheriugton  li,  Co.  started  a  foundry  and 
machine  shop  on  south  Delaware  street  in 
ISGtj  or  '67  and  are  still  located  there. 

Jos.  W.  Davis  &,  Co ,  started  a  brass 
foundry  in  1S55,  on  south  Delaware  street, 
and  has  since  added  steam  and  gas-fitting, 
building  up  a  good  business.  Garrett  >s; 
Co.,  in  I808,  started  a  brass  and  bell  foun- 
dry, on  the  railroad  between  Meridian  and 
Pennsylvania  streets,  but  failed  a  year  or 
two  afterward. 

In  1S56,  Williamson  &  Haugh  begin  the 
manufacture  of  iron  railings,  and  jail 
work,  on  Delaware  street  opposite  the 
Court  House,  and  at  a  subsequent  date  B. 
F.  Haugh  &  Co.  removed  to  south  Penn- 
sylvania street,  erecting  new  buildingsand 
continuing  the  business  on  an  enlarged 
scale. 

In  1857,  E.  C.  Atkins  began  the  manu- 
facture of  mill  and  other  saws,  in  the  old 
City  Foundry  building  on  south  Pennsyl- 
vania street,  but  being  burned  out  in  ISoS, 
he  built  a  small  shop  near  by,  which  was 
also  burned  in  June,  18-yj.  A  new  shop  was 
then  built  on  south  Illinois  street,  a  com- 
pany formed  in  1803  or  '01,  and  the  busi- 
ness and  buildings  have  since  been  greatly 
enlarged,  and  a  heavy  trade  carried  on.  In 
18G7  Farley  i  Sinker  built  a  shop  and  be- 
gan   the    manufacture  of    saws  on    south 


Pennsylvania  street,  and  are  doing  a  good 
business. 

Cottrell  &  Knight,  in  ISoo  or  '56,  began 
the  copper-smithing  business  on  south  Del- 
aware street,  and  have  since  built  up  a 
large  trade. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  other  es- 
tablishments exist  or  have  existed,  and  the 
different  railroads  have  nearly  all  had  re- 
pair shops  of  greater  or  less  extent  at  this 
point. 

The  Indianapolis  Rolling  Mill  was  built 
by  R.  A.  Douglass  &  Co.,  and  a  railroad 
track  down  Tennessee  street  constructed  to 
it,  in  the  summer  of  1857,  and  work  began 
October  29.  The  owners  became  involved 
in  the  spring  of  185S,  and  for  some  time  it 
was  doubtful  whether  the  works  would  ba 
continued,  but  the  mill  was  purchased 
shortly  after  by  a  new  company,  with 
John  .^I.  Lord  as  president,  and  has  since 
been  much  enlarged  and  profitably  ope- 
rated. The  company  have  purchased  coal 
and  iron  mines  in  Clay  county,  have  erect- 
ed a  furnace  to  supply  their  mill  with 
iron,  and  have  also  supplied  coal  for  the 
use  of  the  citizens.  The  success  of  the 
company  stimulated  other  parties,  and  dur- 
ing the  summer  of  18G7,  the  White  River 
Iron  Company  ivas  formed,  and  a  rolling 
mill  was  erected  on  White  river,  at  the  foot 
of  Kentucky  avenue,  and  put  in  operation 
in  April  of  the  present  year,  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  bar  iron,  about  $100,000  of 
capital  being  invested  in  the  enterprise. 

Several  pork  and  beef  packing  estab- 
lishments have  been  built  since  18i7. — 
Rlythe  &  Hedderly  began  the  first  one,  ou 
Fall  creek  race  in  the  fall  of  1847.  It  was 
afterward  carried  on  by  Dlythe  &  McXeely. 
Mansur  &,  Ferguson  built  one  west  of 
White  river  in  1550.  It'was  burned  and 
rebuilt  in  1858.  Their  packing  establish- 
ment was  located  at  the  Madison  depot. — 
Macy  &  McTaggart  built  one  near  Terre 
Haute  railroad  bridge  in  1852.  Gulick  & 
Tweeds  was  built  ju?t  north  of  it  in  1854-5. 
Allen  .May's  was  built  north-west  of  the 
city  in  1855,  and  burned  in  1858.  Kingen 
&  Co.,  built  in  1SG4,  on  the  river  bank,  the 
largest  and  best  racking  establishment  in 
the  country.  It  was  of  brick,  five  stories 
high,  slate  roofed,  and  finished  in  the  best 
style.  They  were  putting:  mill  machinery 
in  it  in  the  spring  of  1SG5,  intending  to 
use  it  as  a  niill  in  summer  and  packing 
house  in  winter.  It  was  filled  at  the  time 
with  lard  and  pork,  on  storage,  when  it 
was  fired  by  an  incendiary  and  utterly  de- 
stroyed, involving  a  loss  of  .S-50.000  to  the 
insurance  companies,  and  being  by  far  the 
largest  and  most  destructive  fire  that  ever 
occurred  here.  It  was  rebuilt  in  ISGG,  but 
not  80  large  orexpeusively  as  before.  Want 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818.  59 


of  spnce  prevents  further  mention  of  the  !  1849,  as  ft  fast  day,  on  account  of  the  ' 
different  manufHCtories  of  the  city.  They  i  cholera.  It  -was  generally  observed  as  j 
are  almost  -wholly   the   growth  of  the  past!  such  throujjhout  the^  country.  \ 

fifteen  years,  and  with  proper  encourage-  j  On  the  ilth  of  February,  1^18,  the  as-  ! 
ment  and  enterprize  could  be  easily  doubled  '  sembly  passed  an  act  chartering  telec^raph  ' 
in  the  next  ten  years.  !  companies,  and  on  the  "iCth,  Henry  O'Reilly    ! 

The  tirsl  wholesale  dry  croods  house  in  i  advertised  for  subscriptions  to  build  a  line  j 
the  place  was  started  in  1S47  by  J.  Little  |  from  here  to  Dayton.  It  was  constructed  ' 
&  Co.,  at  28  west  Washington  street.  It  ,  immediately  afterward,  and  the  first  dis-  1 
•was  burned  May  14,1848,  when  owned  by  j  patches  sent  to  Richmond,  May  12ih.  The  ! 
Little,  Drum  &   Andersons.  j  first     published     dispatches    appeared    in    1 

1848.       It   was    announced    about  the  j  the   Sentinel   .May    tweniy-fourth.     The  of-    ! 
middle    of    December,   1847,  that    Andrew  j  fice    in    the   second  story  of    N orris',  now    i 
Kennedy,  an  ex-member  of  Congress  from  j  Hubbard's  block,  was  crowded    by  exciied    i 
Indiana,  was  ill  of  small-pox  at  the  Palmer  i  natives,  who  doubted    the   genuineness    of    i 
House,    and     he    died     in   January,    1848.  i  the  invention;  and  the  first  operator,  Isaac    \ 
Many  members  of    the   legislature  having  :  H.  Kiersted,  was    greatly    worried    in    es-    j 
visited  him  before  the  disease  was  known,  ,  plaining  it.     In    I'^OO,  Wado  &  Co  built  a    ( 
ft  panic  ensued  and  the  assembly  adjourn-  \  second  line,  which   was  consolidated  with    I 
ed.     This  act  e.xcited  much  ridicule  at  the  i  the  first  in  April,  1S;j3,  and  since  that  date    j 
time,  b  t  as  a  number  of  other  cases  occur- j  other  lines  have  beon  built    by  companies    ! 
red  in  January  and  February, the  mirth  soon  I  and  railways,  till  twenty-nine  wires  now    ! 
ceased,  an*!  panic  seized  the  citizens.     The  !  centre  at    the   ofSce   in    the   third  story  of   j 
conncilordereda  general  vaccination, estab- I  Blackford's   block,  all  under  one  corpora-    ! 
lished  a  board    of  health,    and    authorized  i  tion,  with  Jno.  F.  Wallack  as  superintend-    1 
the  construction  of  a  hospital.     A  lot  was  |  ent.     Isaac  H.  Kiersted,  J.  W.  Chapin,  An-    \ 
accordingly  bought,  material  collected  and  i  ton  Schneider,  Sidney  B.  Morris,  J.F.  Wil-    | 
a  contract  made   with   Seth   Bardwell  for  a  ;  son  and  J.  F.  Wallack,  have  be?n  chief  op-    ' 
frame   house,    but   before   its  erection  the  ■  erators  and  superintendents  at  this  point.    I 
disease  and  panic  subsided,  and  a  citizens'  j      A   merchants'    exchange  was   formed  in 
meeting  protested  against  further  taxes  for  j  June,  for   the   reception  of  dispatches  and    i 
hospital  purposes.      The  council  in  April  i  the  transaction  of  business.     C.  W.  Cady    i 
gave  the  contractor  $225   with  the  mate- !  being  secretary,  K.  Ilomburgh,  treasurer,    j 
rial,  to  give  up  the  contract;  the  lots  were  }  It  failed  in  a  few  weeks  for  lack  of  money.    ! 
sold,  and  Hard  well  built  the  Indiana  House,  '  A  citizens'  meetins  was   called  at  College    j 
on  west  .Market  street  out  of  the   material.  ;  Hall  in  August,  l!;j3,   to  revive  it,  and  af-    ! 
A  citizens'  nieeting  in  the  summer  of  1847,  !  ler  discussion  it  was  resolved   to   form  a    I 
had  recommended  the  building  of  a  hospi-  ;  board  of  trade.     N.  McCarty,  J.  D.  Defrees,    j 
tal,  and  parties  had  then  ofl'ered  to  advance  ]  Ignatius     Brown,    Fv.   J.    Gatling,     A.     H. 
the  necessary  funds.     In  July,  1S49,  anolh-|  Brown  and  J.  T.   Cox,  were  appointed  to 
er  case  of  s;nall-pox  ocurred,  and  as  the  ■  prepare  a  constitution,   circular  and  map,    j 
cholera    was    prevailing    severely    on   the  i  and  solicit  funds.     D.  Maguire  was  elected 
river,  another  first  class  panic  ensued.     A  i  president,  J.  L.   Ketcham,   secretary    R.  B.    i 
citizens'  meeting  recommended  the  cutting  ;  Duncan,  treasurer.    Funds  were  swbscribed 
of  the  dog  fennel   in    the  streets,  and    np-  '  and  a  circular  and   map,  prepared   by  Mr.    i 
pointed  a  committee  to  quarantine  the  cars,     Brovrn,    were   published  and   sent  over  the 
Beveral   miles   south   of  town,   and   remove  •  country,  calling  attention    to  the  advanta- 
the   cholera    and   small-pox    patients   who    ges  held  by  the  city  for  manufacturing  and 
might   be    on   board.     The  plan  was  very  j  wholesaling.     Active  efforts  contin'ied  for 
brilliant,  but  failed  for  the    want  of  a  suf-  |  about  two  years,  and  did  much  good,  but 
ficiently    self-sacrificing  committee.      The  i  the  interest   died   out,  and    the  effort   was 
board  of  health  al«o  recommended  dog  fen-  j  suspended.     Tlie  board  was  again   revived 
nel  mowing,  general  sanitary  precautions,  ;  in  ISotJ,  and  for  two  years  actively  disseai- 
nnd  the  erection  of  a  hospital,     'i'he  mow-  i  inated  information  concerning   the  city. — 
ing  was  acconiingly  done,  but  the  dogfen-  |  The  esthblishment  of  the  rolling  mill  here 
nel  was  foumj  to  be  wor.^e    when   cut  than  j  was    owing    to    its    efloris.       It  again  stis- 
whcn  standing.  This  recommendation  hav-  |  pended  for  want  of  funds.     In   1804,  the 
ing    failed,  no    hospital    was   erected,    and     chamber  of  commerce  was  formed.     T.  B. 
but  few   sanitary  measures  taken.     Many  I  Elliott,  (succeeded  in  18C5by  W.  S.  Pierce.) 
German    emigrants    were    arriving  at  that  !  president,  Jehiel   Barnard,   secretary,    and 
time,  and  the  first  fatal  case  of  cholera  hap-  i  has  since  continued  operations  at  its  office 
pened  among  them,  July  18,  1S45,  and  sev-  \  in  Vinton's  block,  though  not  supported  as    ! 
eral  of  them  subsequently  died.     The  Pres- i  it  should  be.      The   merchants   and  manu-    ) 
ident  appointed  the  first  Friday  of  . -August,  1  facturers'  association   was    formed    in    the 


60 


HISTORY   OF 


spring  of  18GS, '  ^ith  ohjecis  substautially 
similar  to  the  old  board  of  trade,  and  open- 
ed an  ofHce  at  16  south  Meridian  street. 

A  new  engine  was  demanded  by  tbe 
Relief  Company,  and  subscriptions  being 
scanty,  the  Council  ordered  an  election  in 
June,  for  a  special  tax  to  buy  one.  The 
decision  was  i. gainst  it,  as  also  at  another 
election  in  July,  ordered  for  the  same  ob- 
ject. Tiie  first  forc-ign  paper  published 
here,  the  Indiana  Vol/ctblatt,  a  democratic 
weekly  journal,  edited  and  published  by 
Julius  Euilticher,  appeared  from  an  office 
at  Temperance  Hall,  in  September,  and 
has  since  been  regularly  issued  under  the 
control  of  Mr.  Bocttichor.  It  is  now  pub- 
lished at  IGG  east  Washington  street. 

The  companies  commanded  by  Captains 
Lander  and  McDougall  liaTing  returned 
from  Mexico,  a  procession  and  barbecue 
in  their  honor  took  place,  October  Jth,  in 
the  woods  where  the  Soldiers'  Home  was 
afterwards  located.  Senator  Ilannegan, 
Thomas  J.  Henley  and  others,  were  the 
speakers. 

The  Central  Plunk  Road  Company  was 
formed  in  November,  contracts  let  May, 
1840,  and  the  road  finished  from  Plaintield 
to  Greenfield,  in  .\pril,  ISjl,  on  the  old 
National  road,  which,  with  its  bridges, 
was  taken  by  the  company.  Gates  were 
located  at  the  east  and  west  ends  of  Wash- 
ington street,  and  tolls  charged  on  the 
bridge.  Citizens'  meetings  were  held,  de- 
nouncing this  action  on  the  part  of  the 
Company,  and  the  Council  finally  procured 
the  removal  of  the  eastern  gate,  by  releas- 
ing the  Comoany  from  all  liability  for 
improving  Washington  street. 

The  railroads  being  desirous  to  connect 
their  several  depots  by  rail,  the  Council, 
on  the  20th  of  Decembsr,  prescribed  by 
ordinance  the  conditions  on  which  they 
might  lay  the  present  Union  track,  and 
in  the  folliwing  August  the  Comp?.nies 
formed  the  Union  Piailroad  Company,  and 
laid  the  track  in  1850. 

18-19.  The  street  improvement  or- 
dered in  1817-8,  bad  caused  a  debt  of 
about  ?6,000,  and  William  Eckert,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council,  ordered  an  election 
June  9th,  to  authorize  a  special  tax  of  ten 
cents  to  pay  it.  Two  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  votes  were  cast,  and  the  ta.x  carried 
by  eleven  majority.  The  people  grumbled 
greatly  that  the  ta.-c  was  now  torty-five 
cents  on  the  one  hundred  dollars.  H.  C. 
Newcomb  was  elected  .Mayor  at  the  .\pril 
election,  succeeding  Samuel  Henderson, 
the  first  incumbent  of  that  office.  The 
population  this  year  was  found  to  be  G,oOO. 

Much  improvement  was  taking  place, 
three  hundred  houses  were  supposed  to 
have  been  built,  shops  and  factories  were 


started,  and    steam    engines   were    at    last 
made  here. 

The  Central  Medical  College,  a  depart- 
ment of  the  Indiana  Asbury  University, 
was  organized  during  the  summer,  with 
J.  S.  Bobbs,  Richard  Curran,  J.  S.  Harrison, 
George  W.  .Mears,  C.  G.  Downey,  L.  Dun- 
lap,  .\.  II.  Raker  and  D.  Funkhouser  as 
Professors,  and  began  its  first  session, 
November  1st,  (lasting  foi'.r  months.)  in 
Matthew  Little's  twostory  brick  dwelling, 
south-east  corner  East  and  Washington 
streets,  which  had  been  fitted  up  as  the 
College  Buildings.  Twenty  or  thirty  stu- 
dents were  in  attendance  the  first  session, 
and  several  were  graduated  in  March, 
1850,  President  Simpson  delivering  the 
diplomas.  Annual  sessions  were  held  for 
two  or  three  years,  when  the  institution 
was  discontinued.  The  Assembly,  Janu- 
ary 21,  1S50,  authorized  the  sale  of  one 
acre  of  University  Square,  at  its  appraised 
price,  to  Asbury  Uuiversit}-,  for  the  build- 
ings of  the  Central  Medical  College,  but 
the  selected  acre  being  appraised  in  .April 
at  ?u,5*jG,  the  price  was  thought  to  be  too 
high,  and  opposition  arising  to  the  sale, 
it  was  abandoned. 

The  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Marion 
county  was  organized,  and  began  its  first 
session,  on  the  second  Monday  of  July, 
1849,  under  a  special  act  of .  the  {irecediug 
session,  Abram  A.  Hammond  being  first 
judge  and  ex-officio  clerk.  He  was  after- 
wards succeeded  by  Edward  Lander,  who 
served  till  the  Court  was  abolished,  in 
1851-2.  About  fifty  cases  were  on  the 
docket  at  the  first  term.  The  present 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  was  established 
by  the  revised  laws  of  1852,  Levi  L.  Todd 
being  elected  by  the  people  first  Judge,  in 
.\ugust,  1852.  His  successors  since  have 
beeu  Sam'l  Corey,  David  Wallace,  J  no.  Co- 
burn,  Charles  A.  Ray  and   Solomon  Blair. 

The  Widows  and  Orphans  Society  was 
organized  early  in  December,  1849.  The 
receipts  for  the  first  year  were  ^^1^3. 16, 
expenses  S9S.30.  It  has  beeu  mainly 
sustained  by  private  contributions,  and 
by  fairs  and  exhibitions  held  for  its  bene- 
fit, and  has  steadily  grown  in  usefulness 
and  importance.  Two  lots  in  Drake  s  ad- 
dition were  donated  to  the  Society  by 
.\lleu  May,  and  a  third  bought  in  1852. 
A  neat  brick  building  was  erected  on  the 
property  in  1855,  at  a  cost  of  about  S3, 000, 
and  the  atTairs  of  the  society  have  been 
successfully  administered  to  the  piresent 
date.  The  thanks  of  the  community  are 
due  to  the  noble  women  who  struggled 
against  every  disadvantage  in  the  incep- 
tion of  this  great  charity,  and  direct  and 
sufficient  aid  should  be  annually  given 
them  by  the  city  government.     For  the  last 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


61 


two  or  three  years    small    appropriations  '  Chapel,  for  about    S16,000,  and  a  church 


have   been    annually  voteJ   to  the   Society 
by  the  City  Council. 

18  5  0.  An  earthquake,  w Inch  was  felt 
all  through  the  west  and  scuh,  occurred 
at  8  o'clock  A.  M.  on  the  4th  of  April, 
shaking  the  buildings. 


will  shortly  be  erected  there  by  that  con- 
gregation, at  a  cost  of  seventy-livo  or 
eighty  thousand  dollars. 

ISol.  The  Toledo  Theatrical  Com- 
pany, under  Mr.  Shires  as  manager,  wish 
H.  A.  Perry,  Robert  Ri;xton,  Mrs.  Coleman 


The  City  Treasury  receipts  for  the  year  I  Pope  and  other  good  actors,  ga^ve  a  series 
ending  April  '2.3th,  were  S'J.327,  expend!- j  of  dramatic  perl'ormances,  January  7-'Jo, 
tares  S7,-5-'i4.  The  total  taxables  for  1850  |  in  Masonic  Hall,  and  though  sr.dly  embar- 
amouuted  to  $'2,3'26,18J.  The  school  fund  |  rassed  by  lack  of  scenery  and  stage  room, 
was  slowly  accinniiliUing,  amounting  to  j  did  themselves  credit,  and  drew  large  and 
S3. 29-3,  the  receipts  for  the  year  being  |  enthusiastic  audiences. 
$2,38-3.  Polls,  1,243,  ai\  increase  of  400  The  Indianapolis  G;is  Light  and  Coke 
over  last  year.  The  population,  as  shown  I  Co.,  (originated  by  John  J.  Lockwood,)  was 
by  the  census  la  October,  was  8,097,  an  j  incorporated  by  the  assembly  in  February 
increase  of  1,530  over  1849.  The  wealth  j  1851,  for  thirty  years,  with  i52O,00i)  capi- 
had    increased    about     5300,000.      There  j  tal.     Stock  books  were  opened  March  6th, 


were  twenty-five  physicians,  thirty  law- 
yers, arid  one  hundred  and  twenty  indus- 
trial establishments. 

Governor   Crittenden  and  suite  arrived 


and  on  the  2Glh  the  Company  organized 
with  D.  v.  Culley,  President;  U".  \V. 
Wright,  Secretary  and  H.  V.  Barringer, 
'uperintendeut.     The  City  Council,  by  or- 


May  28th,  on  invitation  of  Gov.  Wright,  1  dinance,  March  3d,  gave  the  Company  the 
and  a  Union  meeting  was  hcM  in  the  j  exclusive  right,  for  fifteen  years,  of  sup- 
State  House  yard  on  the  2yih,  when  reso-  '■  plying  the  city  and  iis  inhabitants  with 
lutions  were  passed,  and  sj-eeches  made  j  gas,  prescribing  the  conditions  on  which 
by  the  Governors  and  others.  I  pipes   might   be  laid    in    the   streets,   and 

A   union    funeral  service  was  held  July  !  stipulating    that  gas  should   be  furnished 


27th,  by  all  denominations  and  parlies,  for 
President  Taylor,  Rev.  E.  R.  Ames  deliv- 
ering   an    able    eulogy    on    the    deceased 

President. 

Many  German  emigrants  were  arriving 
this    year,    and  brought    the    chtdera  with 


for  the  street  lamps  at  the  price  then  pre- 
vailing in  Cincinnati.  In  July  the  Com- 
pany bought  a  lot  on  Pennsylvania  street, 
south  of  Rogue's  run,  and  built  a  retort 
house  and  gas-holder  during  the  fall. 
Mains  were  also  laid  on  Penns}  Ivania  and 


them,  nine  or  ten  of  them  dying  during  j  Washington  streets.  The  works  were  tin- 
the  summer.  There  was  no  panic,  how-  j  ished  in  December,  and  gas  was  first  fur- 
ever,  f.nd  the  disease  did  not  spread.  i  nished    for    consumption    on    the    lOih  of 

The  Christian  Church  was  built  during  ;  January,  1852.  In  the  following  April 
this  and  the  next  year,  on  the  south-west  |  7,700  feet  of  pipe  had  been  laid.  Thirty 
corner  of  Delaware  and  Ohio  streets.  'bushels    of    coal    were    daily    consumed, 

The  Indiana  Slatesjuan,  a  weekly,  demo-  j  675  burners  employed  and  116  consumers 
cratic  paper,  was  first  issued  September  ;  using  gas.  Before  the  construction  of  the 
4th,  by  Fllis  &  Spann,  from  the  old  i  gas  works,  the  only  building  in  the  city 
Sentinel  ofiice,  on  Illinois  street.  It  was  j  lighted  by  gas  was  the  .Masonic  H.aII, 
merged  with  the  Sentinel  in  September,  I  which  was  furnished  with  a  gas-making 
1852.  j  apparatus,  and  the  first  street  lamps  in  th.e 

The  Indiana  Female  College  was  or-  |  city  were  the  two  in  front  of  the  hall, 
ganized,  and  the  house  and  lot  on  the  |  supplied  from  its  njiparatus.  For  two  or 
south-east  corner  of  Ohio  and  Meridian  \  three  years  the  Company  was  unsuccess- 
etreets  purchased  during  the  summer,  and  j  ful,  the  machinery  and  works  being  de- 
the  school  opened  there  in  the  fall  by  Rev.  fective  in  construction  and  the  Siiperin- 
T.  A.  Lynch.  His  successors  in  the  Pres-  tendent  inexperienced  in  the  business, 
idency  of  the  institution  have  been  Rev.  An  additioniil  sum  was  then  expended  in 
Charles  Adams,  G.  W.  Ho-s,  B.  H.  Hoyt,  |  modifying  the  works.  Christopher  Brown 
0.  M.  Spencer  and  W.  H.  Demolte.  The  j  was  appointed  Superintendent,  an  in- 
college  was  suspended  in  1859,  but  in  1865  j  creased  pressure  was  put  on  the  mains, 
the  old  lot  and  buildings  were  sold,  and  |  more  gas  was  consumed,  and  the  Company 
the  lot  and  buildings  of  the  former  .Mc-  began  to  prosper.  The  mains  were  exten- 
Lean  Female  Seminary  bought  and  used  !  ded  on  additional  streets,  and  fuitherira- 
from  that  dale  by  the  institution.  The  i  provements  were  made  in  the  works.  But 
Bchool  was  well  conducted  and  prosperous,  >  little  gas  was  used  by  the  city  until  within 
but  was  closed  with  the  June  term,  1808,  \  the  last  ten  years.  The  first  lunps  were 
and  in  that  month  the  house  and  lot  was  i  put  up  on  Washington  street,  between  Me- 
purchased     by    the    trustees    of     Wesley  |  ridian  and  Pennsylvania  streets,  in  the  fall 


62 


HISTORY   OF 


of  1S53,  and  were  supplied  with  gas  it  the 
expense  of  the  property-holders  on  tbnt 
square,  the  tax  for  gns  lighting  having 
been  defeated  at  the  elections  iu  lt^ol-2. 
Tl'.e  first  contract  for  supplying  street 
lamps  was  made  by  the  Council  and  Com- 
pany in  December,  l^bi,  and  portions  of 
Washington  and  some  of  the  adjacent 
Btreeta  were  lit  iu  1S>5.  In  18-38-9,  a 
large  increase  was  made  in  the  length  of 
streets  lighted  and  number  of  lamps,  and 
the  increase  has  been  steady  since  that 
date.  In  May,  IbGO,  there  were  eight  and 
one-half  miles  of  street  lit,  two  hundred 
nnd  sixty-five  lamps  were  used  and  eighty- 
five  more  were  being  erected.  At  present 
twenty-one  miles  of  streets  are  lit  and 
nearly  nine  hundred  lamps  have  been 
erected,  only  seven  hundred  and  fifiy  of 
which  are  used,  the  Council  having  re- 
cently decided  to  light  only  those  at  the 
street  corners.  The  lamp  posts  and  lamps 
are  put  up  at  the  expense  of  the  property- 
holders  and  kept  in  repair  by  the  city. 
Twenty-three  miles  of  mains  aod  nearly 
geveuty-five  miles  of  service  pipe  are  now 
in  use.  There  are  one  thousand  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty  consumers.  Extensive 
changes,  additions  and  repairs  have 
been  made  to  the  works,  and  iliey  have 
also  been  largely  extended.  In  18G3,  the 
Company  built,  on  Delaware  street,  a  new 
rcceivirig  reservoir,  or  gas-holder,  of 
about  30O,(j00  cubic  feet  capacity,  at  a  cost 
of  about  $120,000.  The  re:ort  house,  which 
originally  held  six  retorts,  now  has  fifty- 
five.  The  average  daily  production  of  gas 
at  present  is  about  175,000  feet. 

No  rule  was  at  first  adopted  as  to  the 
number  and  position  of  street  lamps  on 
each  square,  and  some  trouble  and  irregu- 
larity resulted  from  it,  but  on  tlie  12th  of 
February,  1859,  the  Council  fixed  the 
number  at  four  to  each  square,  jjlaced  at 
equal  diagonal  distances,  and  so  arranged 
that  the  cj^posite  street  corners  should  be 
lit. 

As  the  charter  granted,  March  3,  1851, 
for  fifteen  years,  by  the  city,  would  ex- 
pire March  4.  1800,  tlie  Council,  in  .May, 
18G5,  ordered  the  clerk  to  advertise  for 
proj'osals  to  light  the  city  for  twenty  years 
with  gas.  It  was  done,  and  on  the  4th  of 
September  the  Gas  Company  submitted  the 
only  proposition  tha'.  was  received.  They 
had  been  charging  private  comsumers 
§4.50  per  1,000  feet,  and  the  city  S20.00 
per  lamp,  with  S8.44  per  annum  for  light- 
ing and  cleaning.  They  now  offered  to 
supply  the  city  and  citizens,  for  the  en- 
suing twenty  years,  at  53.48  per  thousand 
feel,  light,  and  clean  the  lamps  at  $5.40 
each  per  aniium,  all  payments  to  be  in 
currency  at  par,  free  of  Government  tax, 


which  was  to  be  paid  by  coosumers.     Tliey 
also    claimed    the    exclusive    riglit,   under 
Legislative  charter,  to  supply  the  citizens 
for  five  years  lunger  with  gas.     The  com- 
mittee  on  gas   m:i.le   long   reports  in  .July 
and    October  on  the  subject,  setting    forth 
that   eighteen    miles    of    mains    had    been 
laid,  five  hundred   and   thirty   three  lamp 
posts  erected  and  one  hundred  more  being 
erected;   that  the  gas  used  by  private  par- 
ties in   ]8tj4  amounted  to  about  17,000,1)00 
feet,    and    by    the   city  to   4,500,000:    that 
one  thousand  two  hundred   meters  were  in 
use,  and  00,000  bushels  of  coal  consumed. 
Tiiey  considered   the  question  of  cc'^t  and 
price  here  and  elsewhere,  and  submitted  a 
proposition  that  the  Company  be  given  the 
contract  for  fifteen  years  at  $3.00  per  one 
thousand    feet,  and   the   lamps    at   ?28.S0 
per  year,  consumers  to   pay  tax,  and   tlie 
city  to  light  and  clean  the  lamps — a  gas 
inspector   was    recommended.     They    also 
denied    the    Company's    asserted    right  to 
continue  for  five  years  longer  than  the  pe- 
riod fixed  by  the  original  contract  with  the 
city.     It  was  afterward   proposed   to  capi- 
talize   the    property    of    the    Company    at 
8350,000,  the  city  to  divide  profits  above 
15  percent.,  and   on  the  22d  of  January, 
18Gt),  ft  gas  ordinance  was  passed  granting 
the  company  the  right  for  twenty  years  on 
a  capital  of  S350,000.     The  Company,  on 
the  31st  of  January,  declined  to  accept  it, 
and  said    they  would   continue   to  fuiuish 
gas  to  all  consumers  at  $3.75  per  thousand 
by  actual   measurement,  consumers  to  pay 
tax.      Matters   remained   in   this   state   till 
the  5th  of  March,  when  R.  B.  Catherwood 
&  Co.,  offered  to  take  the  charter  for  thirty 
years,    with  the    exclusive    privilege,   and 
furnish   gas   at    $3.00   per   thousand   feet, 
the  city   to  contest   the   claim   of  the   old 
Company.     In    response   to  this    oft'er  the 
Gas  Committee,  on  the  12th  of  .March,  re- 
ported an  oidinance  giving  Catherwood  & 
Co.,  or  •'  the  Citizens'  Gas  Light  and  Coke 
Co.,"  the  exclusive  right  for  twenty  years, 
reserving  the  right  of  the  city  to  buy  the 
works  after  ten  ^"ears,  and  all  profits  over 
15   per  cent,  on  the  capital   were  to  be  di- 
vided  equally  between   the  Company  and 
city.     The  new  Company  was  to  test  the 
claim  of  the   old   Company  by   suit.     The 
capital   was    to    be    appraised    every    five 
years,    and    the   Company  was   to   fix   the 
rate  on    the   first  of   .March   annually  for 
I  gas,  at  not  over  $3.00  per  thousand  feet. 
They   were   to   extend   mains  whenever 
I  fifteen  burners  were  proniised  to  the  square, 
i  and   lay  them   and  repair  streets  at  their 
I  own  cost.     The   company    were    to  insure 
j  the   works   Bgainst   fire,   and   forfeit  their 
charter  if  the  conditions  were  not  fulfilled. 
While  this  ordinance  was  pending,  the  old 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


63 


comp;\ny  got  alarmed,  and  came  forward 
with  atioilier  proposition,  oCTfring  to  fur-  : 
nish  gi\s  for  twenty  years  .it  $3  per  1,000  . 
feet,  10  make  no  ciiarge  for  meters,  to 
charge  only  actual  cost  of  pipe  couneciions,  ' 
to  extend  mains  wucnevtr  lifteen  burners  i 
to  the  square  were  promised,  &c.  This 
offer  was  accepted,  and  on  the  19th  of; 
March  the  council  passed  an  ordinance  I 
rechartering  the  old  coropany  for  twenty  ' 
years  from  March  4,  Itti'i.  Good  gas  was  ' 
to  be  furnished  at  §0  per  1,000  feet,  with  ! 
no  charge  for  meters,  the  company  to  lay  \ 
mains  when  fifteen  burners  to  the  square  I 
were  promised,  and  make  all  pipe  counec-  j 
tions  at  actual  cost.  The  price  of  gas  was  j 
to  be  reduced  if  improvements  in  its  man- 
ufacture were  adopted;  all  streets  to  be' 
repaired  when  torn  up  to  lay  pipes,  and  ' 
damages  paid  by  the  company  in  case  of  J 
injury  to  any  party.  The  city  was  to  ! 
light  and  clean  the  lamps,  and  have  the  i 
quantity  and  quality  of  the  gas  tested.  I 
The  company  accepted  this  charter  on  the  j 
21st  of  .^Iarch,  and  has  since  been  acting  i 
under  it.  j 

It  was  found,  shortly  after  the  new  con-  j 
tract  was  made,  that  the  city  gas  bills  were  ! 
rapidly  increasing  under  the  meter-meas-  • 
urmeut  system;  and  on  iijvestigation,  in 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1SG7,  it  was  I 
ditcovered  that  the  city  had  been  paying  ! 
for  sixteen  or  twenty  lamps  beyond  the  ■ 
actual  number,  and  for  all  of  them  whether  1 
lighted  or  not,  and  that  by  defective  burn-  j 
ers  and  too  heavy  pressure,  more  gas  was  j 
cousurjed  than  was  necessary  —  nearly! 
G,0oO.U00  feet  having  been  burned  in  elev-  j 
en  months  in  18'Jo-7.  The  committee  ' 
recommended  the  election  of  a  gas  inspec-  j 
tor,  ar.d  George  II.  Fleming  was  chosen  to  i 
that  oSce  in  the  spring  of  1S68,  and  fur-  | 
nished  with  a  set  of  instruments  at  a  cost  j 
of  SbOO.  Rules  were  adopted  for  testing  i 
quantity,  quality  and  pressure  of  the  j 
gas,  and  the  number  of  hours  the  lamps  i 
were  to  be  lighted.  It  was  also  resolved 
to  light  the  lamps  only  on  the  street  cor-  ( 
ners,  and  to  bhut  oft'  the  gas  at  midnight. 
By  this  action  the  cost  to  the  city  has  been  j 
reduced  from  nearly  S-lO^OoO  to  little  over 
§20,000  annually.  '  | 

The  original  capital  of  the  gas  company  I 
was  $"20,000;  but  the  works  and  mains,  as  ; 
first  built,  cost  $27,0("i0.  They  were  rebuilt  j 
in  lSo*j,  at  an  additional  expense  of  S30,-  i 
000 — making  the  total  outlay,  before  the  i 
works  proved  proti table,  about  iJ7,0()0.  ' 
From  that  time  the  enterprise  has  been  ; 
successful.  Few  or  no  dividends  have  been  i 
declared,  the  profits  ail  being  devoted  to 
the  additions,  repairs  and  e.xtensions  of' 
(he  property;  the  works  being  again  en-  ; 
lirely    rebuilt   in   IfcoO,  and  an  additional  ; 


gas-holder  of  7.5,000  feet  capacity  built. 
Three  reservoirs,  one  of  20,00'>,  one  of  7 .'.,- 
OuO  and  one  of  300.000  cubic  feet  capacity 
are  now  in  use;  700  bushels  of  coil  are 
daily  used  in  making  gas,  the  average 
product  being  17-3,000  feet.  In  the  spriiig 
of  IS'jS  the  company  built  a  three-story 
brick  office  on  the  north-east  corner  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  streets,  at  a 
cost  of  about  $12,000.  The  present  value 
of  the  property  and  franchise  of  tlie  com- 
pany is  overS-JOO.OOO.  D.  V.  Culley,  D.  S. 
Beatty,  E.  J.  Peck  and  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Jr., 
have  been  the  presidents,  and  H.  V.  Bar- 
ringer.  Christopher  Brown,  E.  Bailey  and 
H.  E.  Stacey  superintendents. 

The  State  Board  of  .Agriculture  was  char- 
tered by  the  Assembly,  February  1-kh,  ISol, 
and  w,is  organized  .May  27  with  a  board 
of  directors.  Gov.  \Vright  being  chosen 
president,  John  B  Dillon,  secretary,  and 
K.  Mayhew,  treasurer.  Tiie  first  fair  was 
held  here  on  the  military  grounds  October 
l'J-2-3,  1852 — l,.3lJ5  entries  wera  mide,  a 
large  crowd  of  visitors  attended,  many  of 
whom  experienced  difficulty  in  procuring 
food  and  lodging,  but  the  railways  enabled 
most  of  the:u  to  come  and  return  tlie  same 
day.  The  citizens  were  then  first  aston- 
ished with  the  numberless  side-shows, 
since  so  common,  at  such  gatherings.  Tlie 
fair  of  1S53  was  held  October  11-13,  at 
Lafayette;  that  of  1854  in  October,  at 
Madison.  Those  of  1855,  '0,  '7  and  'S  at 
Indianapolis.  Receipts,  respectively,  SH,- 
000,  $13,000,  514,600  end  $11,000;  that 
of  1859  at  New  Albany,  receipts  $-S,000. 
Those  of  18(J0,  '2,  '3  and  '4,  were  held  at 
Indianapolis,  receipts  $11,000,  $4,2C0,  $S,- 
OuO,  $10,000.  That  of  1805  at  Ft.  Wayne, 
receipts  $10,500.  That  of  ISOG  at  Indianap- 
olis, and  of  lSo7  at  Terre  Haute.  No  fair 
was  held  in  18G1.  It  will  bo  seen  that  the 
most  successful  fairs  have  been  held  at 
tliis  point,  and  the  fact  would  be  still  more 
marked  by  the  comparison  of  the  entries 
made  at  each.  The  most  successful  fair 
was  that  of  1857,  both  in  receipts  and  in 
number  of  entries.  The  fairs  liere  until 
1860,  and  during  the  war,  were  held  on  the 
military  grounds,  which  were  fitted  up  by 
the  Board  and  citizens  for  the  purpose. 
Those  held  elsewhere  were  on  grounds  fur- 
nished and  fitted  up  by  the  citizens  of  the 
respective  cities.  In  1850  the  Board  de- 
termined to  locate  the  fair  permanently  at 
this  point  and  procure  larger  grounds. 
Proposals  were  invited,  and  during  the 
winter  and  following  spring  much  compe- 
tition arose  between  tlie  partizans  of  dif- 
ferent sites  adjoining  the  city,  and  seme 
ill  feeling  was  caused.  The  Otis  grove, 
north  of  the  city,  was  bought  by  the  board 
and   railway   companies   in  18iJ0,  and   ex- 


C4 


HISTORY   OF 


pensively  fitted  up  during  the  summer, 
and  the  lirst  fair  held  there  in  October. 
It  was  not.  very  successful  pecuniarily; 
many  of  the  premiums  were  left  unpud, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  the  board  vras 
much  embarrassed  fiuancially,  being  le- 
lieved  at  last  by  State  appropriations  and 
damages  received  from  the  general  govern- 
ment. The  fair  of  ISol  v^-as  announced, 
but  the  war  intervening,  it  was  aban- 
doned. 

With  the  first  rush  of  troops  to  this 
point,  the  fair  ground  was  occupied, cal- 
led Camp  Morton,  and  used  at  intervals 
afterward  until  the  capture  of  Fort  Don- 
alson  when  it  was  selected  as  a  prison 
camp,  and  used  as  such  till  after  the  close 
of  the  war — having,  often,  5,000  inmates. 
Its  use  as  a  camp  and  prison  injured  the 
grounds  exceedingly  and  destroyed  nearly 
all  the  trees.  It  is  now  being  improved, 
the  city  liaving  voted  Sv, 000  for  that  object : 
and  when  the  improvements  are  completed 
will  again  be  used  by  the  board.  The 
State  fairs  have  all  been  alike  in  their  es- 
sential features,  and  are  now  what  they 
were  at  the  beginning.  Gov.  Wright,  Jos. 
Orr,  A.  C.  Stevenson,  G.  D.  Wagner,  D.  P. 
IloUoway,  J.  U.  Williams,  Stearns  Fisher 
and  A.  D.  Hararick  have* been  the  presi- 
dents of  the  Society;  and  J.  B.  Dillon,  W. 
T.  Dennis,  Ignatius  Brown,  "W.  11.  Loomis 
and  A   .1.  Holmes  the  secretaries. 

Kine  hundred  and  fifty-five  votes  were 
cast  at  the  city  election,  April  2Gth.  H.  C. 
Newcomb  was  elected  mayor,  but  resigned 
November  7ih,  and  the  council  elected  Ca- 
leb Scudder  for  the  balance  or  the  term.  A 
tax  of  five  cents  wa.s  authorized  at  the 
April  election  for  the  fire  department  and 
purchase  of  engines. 

Johu  L'..  Gough  made  his  first  Tisit  to  this 
city  in  May,  and  gave  a  eeries  of  temper- 
ance lectures  in  Masonic  Ilall.  He  has 
lectured  here  many  times  since  before  dif- 
ferent societies,  but  never  equalled  the 
impression  he  then  made,  when  he  was 
in  his  prime,  and  before  his  English  trip 
injured  his  voice  and  manner. 

A  violent  storm  of  wind  and  rain  oc- 
curred on  the  DJih  of  May,  blowing  down 
fences  and  trees,  and  prostrating  the  M.  iSi 
I.  II.  R.  car  house,  and  on  the  2'-'d  a  heavy 
hail-storm  broke  thousands  of  panes  of 
glass.  On  the  28th  of  .May  Gov.  Reuben 
Wood,  of  Ohio,  visited  the  city  and  was 
suitably  received  by  the  authorities. 

The  papers  in  May  stated  that  there 
were  then  two  foundries,  three  machine 
shops,  and  a  boiler  factory  in  operation  ; 
fifty  steam  engines  had  been  built,  and  the 
manufacture  of  tiireshere  had  been  commen- 
ced  at  the  Washington  foundry.  Charles 
Mayer  was  also  building  a  three-story  bu- 


siness Louse  with  an  iron  front,  the  first 
one  in  the  city.  Au  ''old  resident,"  in 
a  communication,  asserts  that  ''nobody  is 
crazy  enough  to  think  the  city  will  have 
oO,000  inhabitants  during  tliis  century." 
The  receipts  of  the  city  treasury  for  the 
year  ending  May  1st,  1851,  wereS10,515; 
expenditures  the  same;  debt  55,407;  school 
fund  from  last  year  S3,oOS,  amount  col- 
lected $2,851,  expended  S5.035  on  build- 
ing; balance  $221.  The  number  of  chil- 
dren   in  the  city  was  ptcfed  to  be  2,12tj. 

W.  .McK.  Scott  started  the  first  com- 
mercial college  here  in  March,  1851, 
continuing  it  for  several  years,  and  in  Oc- 
tober 1851,  he  originated  a  library  and 
reading  room  association.  Rev.  N.  W. 
Camp,  president,  A.  M.  Hunt,  secretary, 
and  \V  .  McK.  Scott,  treasurer  and  librari- 
an ;  but  the  enterprise  lived  only  about  a 
year.  He  also  started  the  first  real  estate 
agency  that  had  existed  here  for  many 
years.  Commercial  colleges  have  been 
touiuied  since  that  date  by  Bryant,  Hayden, 
Gregory,  Purdy,  and  others,  graduating 
many  young  men  for  active  business  pur- 
suits. 

It    being  propossd   to   light  Washington 
street  with    gas,  and  to  buy  a  town  clock, 
a  vote  was  taken  September  13,  lo  author- 
ize a  o-as  tax  of  eight  cents,  and  clock  tax 
of    one   cent.      The    first    was  heavily  de- 
feated,   and   the  last  authorized.     It    was 
,  levied,  and    a  Butncieiit  fund  having  accu- 
I  mulated,    Jno.    Moft'att    was   employed    in 
April,  1853,  to  build  the  clock  for  SI, 200, 
and  after  much  dissension  as  to  where  it 
I  should  be  placed,  it  was  located  in  Roberts' 
I  Chapel  steeple  in  1854,  and  remained  there 
[till  July   1808,   when   it  was  removed  and 
i  put  in  charge  of  the  chief  fire  engineer. 
I       The  first  express  otfice  here   was  opened 
j  September  15,  by    the  Adams  Express  Co.. 
j  the  line  being  over  the  Madison  road,  and 
Blythe  &  Holland,  agents,  till   December, 
1  when    Charles   Woodward   was  appointed. 
I  He  was  succeeded   a  year  or  two  after  by 
i  John  H.  Ohr,  who  held  the  ofBce  till  it  was 
discontinued    in    March,    180S.      Offices  of 
Wells,  Fargo  &    Co.'s  Express,  of  the   Uni- 
ted States    Express,  of  the   American  and 
Merchants'   Union    have  been    established 
here  at  ditferent  dates.     Since  the  cons.)Ii- 
dation  of   the  companies    in  March,  18G8, 
the  Merchants'  Union  and    American  have 
been  the  only  offices  open  here. 

The  county  agricultural  society  was 
formed  in  August,  and  held  its  first  tairin 
October.  Fairs  have  been  held  ncirly  ev- 
ery year  since  with  moderate  success,  do- 
inp'  well  when  the  State  fairs  were  held 
elsewhere. 

On  the  23.1  of  September,  twenty-two 
members      of     the       First      Presbyterian 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  18IS. 


65 


cliurcli  formeJ  the  third  church.  Rev.  Da- 
vid Stevi'nson  wus  CHlicd  to  the  p'lstoraie 
Nov.  17.  He  has  boea  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Geo.  Hccknian,  and  Rev.  Robf.  Sloss.  The 
chiircli  building  on  the  corner  of  Illinois 
and  Ohio  street,  was  begun  in  1852,  and 
partly  completed  in  May,  18.39,  at  a  cost 
of  about  f"Jo.000  for  house  and  lot.  The 
towers  have  not  j-ct  Leeu  built.  Tiie  cou- 
grea:ation  occupied  Colle:,e  and  Temperance 
Halls  till  January,  Ibo-t,  when  they  -went 
into  the  basement  of  the  church,  using  it 
.till  1859.  Tiie  United  Brethren  Church 
was  built  during  1851-2,  on  the  corner 
of  Ohio  and  New  Jersey   streets. 

Washington  street  had  formerly  been 
planti.'d  along  portions  of  its  sidewalks 
witli  trees,  but  they  liad  gradually  been 
cut  away,  and  on  the  tirst  of  October  the 
old  locu.*t  trees  in  front  of  the  present  Dun- 
lop  corner,  the  last  ones  in  the  center  of 
the  city,  wore  cut  down. 

Madame  Anna  Bisliop  and  Boclisa,  tlie 
first  noted  musicians  wlio  visited  the  place, 
gave  a  concert  at  Masonic  Hall,  on  the  24th 
of  November. 

In  November  the  experiment  was  tried 
of  having  markets  at  noon  instead  of  at 
daylirrht,  but  it  was  abandoned  after  a 
short  period.  The  weather  in  December 
and  January  was  excessively  cold. 

18  5.;.  On  the  10th  of  January  a  fire 
broke  oat  in  the  old  frame  and  brick 
housc:^  er.tending  e:ist  of  the  Capital 
House  !r)  t!ie  alley,  utterly  consuming 
them,  r.i;d  burning  up  nearly  all  the  records 
in  the  I'ity  Treasurer's  oflice.  The  pres- 
ent buildings  were  erected  there  during 
the  summ'ir  and  occupied  in    the  fall. 

1*.  J.  Ash  opened  a  theatre  with  a  small 
company  nt  .Masonic  Hnll,  in  February, 
butf;iilcd  and  discontinued  shortly  after- 
wards. 

The  Assembly,  on  the  20th  December, 
1851,  had  invited  Kossuth  to  visit  the 
city,  and  at  a  subsequent  public  meeting, 
fifty  citizens  had  been  appointed  a  commit- 
tee of  reception.  They  met  him  February 
2Gth,  at  Ciuoiunati,  and  on  Friday,  the 
27th,  he  arrived  here  via  Madison,  and 
was  escorted  by  a  procession  across  the 
muddy  valley  of  Pogue's  run  to  the  State 
House,  where  he  was  welcomed  as  the 
gues':  of  the  Slate  by  Governor  V/righf, 
ami  replied  in  an  address  of  some  length, 
to  ihe  vast  crowd  assembled  in  the  yard. 
Th3  part3'  '"'^^  quartered  at  the  Capital 
Hou«e,  (now  the  Senlind  oCTice, )  then  the 
best  and  largest  hotel  in  the  city.  A  re- 
ception was  lield  at  the  Governor's  resi- 
dence at  night.  On  Saturday  he  was  re- 
ceived by  the  two  houses  of  Assembly, 
and  received  delegations,  and  contribu- 
tions for  Hungary.     Sunday  he  attended 


Roberts   Chapel  and   the   Sunday   schools. 
On    .NIouday    he    received   deleg.-i.tions  and 
i  contributions,    and    at    night    delivered    a 
I  long    and    ehiborate    address,    at    .\Iasonic 
I  Hall,  before  the  society  of  "The  Fricuiis  of 
I  Hungary."     On  Tuesday  he  left  for  Louis- 
ville, after  collecting  about  SI, 000. 
I      Dr     C.    G.    McLean    built,    during    this 
I  summer,  a    three-story  brick    building,  on 
I  the   corner  of    Nevi*    i'ork    and    Meridian 
I  streets,  and  opened  the  first  session  of  the 
I  McLean  Female  Seminary  at  that  p":ace  in 
I  September;    one  hundred  and   fifty  yiupils 
I  were  in  attendance  during   the  first  year, 
and     the     school     soon     took    high    rank. 
Dr.  McLean   died   in  18G0,  and  the  school 
was  continued  until  1865,  under  Professor 
G.    N.    Todd,    Professor    Sturdevant,    and 
others.     It    was    then    discontinued,    anii 
the    property   bought    by  the  Indiana   Fe- 
male College,  which  was  located  there  till 
June,  18iJS,  when  it  was  discontinued,  and 
the  property  sold    to    the   Wesley   Chapel 
congregation    for    about    SiG.OOO,    as    the 
site  for  their  new  Church. 

The    North   Western  Christian    Univer- 
sity was  chartered  by  the  Assembly,  Feb., 
1852.     A  meeting    of    the    commissioners 
j  was  held  June  22,  and  stock  subscriptions 
reported,  amounting  to  §75.000.     Twenty- 
one  directors,   with    Ovid   Butler  as  Presi- 
dent, were   elected  July  14th.     A  site  of 
I  tv.'cnty  acres  of  fine  woodland  was  donated 
j  to  the  institution  by  Ovid  Butler.     Plans 
I  by  Wm.  Tinsley,  architect,  were  adopted, 
and  the  contracts  were  let  in  July,  1853, 
I  for  the  west  wing  of  the  building.     It  wa3 
erected  in    1854-5,  at  a  cost  of    S27,000, 
and    dedicated    November    1st,    1855,    by 
}  Horace  Mann,  who  delivered  an  able  ad- 
I  dress  on  the  occasion.     John  Young,  J.  R. 
Challen  and  A.  II.  Benton  were  the  first 
Professors.     John    Young,    S.  K.  Ho.shour 
and   A.   R.  Eeuton    have    been  the  Presi- 
dents.    The  institution  has   been  prosper- 
ous  under  an   able  corps   of    instructors. 
Three     societies,    Pythonean,     .Maihesian 
and  Threskomathian,  are  sustained  by  the 
students.     Pupils  of  both  sexes  are  in  at- 
tendance  at  the  institution.     The  College 
buildings  are  still  incomplete. 

The  City  Assessor  returned  the  popula- 
tion of  the  city  in  July,  at  10,812.  The 
fourth  of  July 'was  celebrated  with  more 
display  than  usual.  The  Sabbath  School 
procession,  embracing  about  two  thousand 
'children  and  teachers,  marched  to  the 
State  House  square.  The  firemen  and 
military,  comprising  the  City  Guards,  the. 
Marion",  We=!iern,  liidependent  Relief  and 
Invincible  fire  companies,  and  the  0.  K. 
bucket  comj)any,  headed  by  Downie  a 
band,  (which  had  been  formed  in  August, 
IsoO,)  also   paraded  the  streets,  with  the 


(") 


66 


HISTORY  OF 


—  ( 


fire  erigmc3  and  hose  reels  fancifully  dpc- 
orated. 

The  first  balloon  ascension  here,  was 
innde  nt  4  o'clock  p.  m.,  July  29th,  at  the 
Stnte  House  square,  (v,-hicli  had  been  er- 
closcd  for  the  purpose,)  by  Win.  PauUiu. 
The  balloon  rose  to  a  great  height,  re- 
ronining  above  the  cknuls  for  an  hour,  and 
lighting  in  the  evening  near  Greenfield. 
At  night,  Dichl  of  Cincinnati,  gave  a  fine 
exhibition  of  fire-works  inside  the  en- 
closure. The  shovr  was  gotten  up  by  Jas. 
H.  McKernan,  and  the  ascension  was  wit- 
nessed by  over  15,000  persons,  nearly  all 
of  whom  held  curb-stone  tickets.  Since 
that  time  balloon  ascensions  have  bc6n 
made  here  by  Pusey,  Bannister,  Bellman, 
and  a  number  of  others. 

Much  improvement  was  made  in  the 
place  this  year,  and  many  buildings 
erected  or  begun  ;  among  these  were  the 
Bates  House,  Morris  (now  the  Sherman) 
House,  McLean's  Seminary,  three  brick 
school  houses,  Lafuyette  and  Union  depots, 
Terre  Haute  shops,  Washington  foun  Iry, 
Sinker's  boiler  factory,  Osgood  i.  Smith's 
peg  and  last  factory,  GeisendorfF's  woollen 
factory,  Drew's  carriage  factory,  Shella- 
barger's  planing  mill,  .Macy's  pork-house, 
Blake's  Commercial  Row,  Blackford's 
building  on  Meridian  street,  snd  others. 
The  railroads  were  being  actively  con- 
structed, streets  improved,  and  cisterns 
built  for  the  fire  departiaent,  as  voted  for 
in  October  by  a  small  majority.  The  first 
State  and  county  fairs  were  held  by  the 
present  societies,  drawing  large  crov.-ds ; 
great  conventions  were  also  held  during 
the  summer,  by  the  political  parties. 

18  5  3.  Among  the  side  shows  in  atten- 
dance at  theState  fair,  in  October,  1852,  had 
been  Yankee  Kobinson's  atheaeum,  or  tent 
thcater,placed  whereGallup'sbuilding  now 
is,  east  of  the  State  House.  He  returned 
here  during  the  v.  inter,  and  on  the  21it  of 
January  opened  in  the  Washington  Hall, 
(which  had  been  fitted  with  stage  and  rais- 
ed seats,)  with  the  Alphonso  troupe  of  vo- 
calists, the  concert  being  a  blind  for  the 
theatrical  performance  which  followed.  Af- 
ter ten  days  or  two  weeks,  he  announced 
himself  as  manager,  and  continued  the 
performances  till  March  7th,  drawing  very 
gocd  houses,  and  employii.g  a  good  compa- 
ny; among  them  were  Henry  W.  Waugh, 
J.' F.  Lytton,  D.  W.  Waugh,  Robinson  and 
his  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Wilkens, 
and  others.  After  Robinson  left,  PI.  W. 
Brown  opened  the  ball  as  a  theater,  with 
Sidney  Wilkens  and  wife,  Meehen,  and 
others,  forming  a  good  stock  company.  The 
season  lasted  from  July  1st  to  the  2Gtb,  and 
Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  was  first  represented 
here  to  crowded  Louses.     Sidney   Wilkens 


again  opened  it  as  manager,  oa  the  10th  of 
August,  and  continued  for  a  short  time  with 
nearly  the  same   company.      Wilkcus  was   ■ 
an  actor  of  considerable  merit.  l 

The  first  old  settlers'  meeting  was  held 
at  the  State  house,  January  31st,.  Speeches 
were  made,  anccviotes  of  the  early  settle- 
ment related,  and  an  organization  effected 
with  arrangements  for  annual  meetings. 
These  were  subsequently  held  till  18tJ0,  at 
Calvin  Fletcher's  and  Jaraes  Blake's,  and 
ut  the  fair  grounds,  but  were  abandoned 
during  the  war,  and  have  not  since  been 
revived. 

The  Odd  Fellows  had  determined  to  build 
a  grand  lodge  hall  here,  and  during  the 
winter  had  organized  a  stock  company. — 
Subscriptions  to  about  5-^5,000  were  taken 
by  the  grand  and  subordinate  lodges  and 
encampments,  and  by  individuals,  and  in 
February  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Washington  was  bought  for 
§17,0C0.  A  plan  was  adopted,  afterward 
modified  by  F.  Costigan,  architect,  and  du- 
ring 1854-5  the  present  building  was  erect- 
ed on  the  site  of  the  two-story  brick  and 
frame  houses  which  had  formerly  occupied 
the  lot.  It  cost  about  $30,000,  and  was  oc- 
cupied in  thesuramer  of  1855,  the  city  coun- 
cil room  and  city  offices  being  on  the  sec- 
ond floor,  where  they  remained  till  the 
present  offices  were  occupied  in  Glenns' 
block,  in  May,  18^2.  The'stylo  of  the  hall 
is  peculiar,  probabl}'  unlike  any  other  on 
earth.  Ilie  lower  tloor  is  occupied  as  bu- 
siness rooms,  the  second  as  oftices,  and  on 
the  third  are  two  large  halls  and  ante- 
rooms, used  by  the  ledges  and  encamp- 
ments, who  occupy  them  each  secular  night 
of  the  week.  Tlie  house  is  stuccoed  inside 
and  out,  and  is  surmounted  by  a  dome,  de- 
signed by  H.  A.  Bohlen  architect.  The 
hall  was  dedicated,  with  appropriate  cere- 
monies, .May  21,  1856* 

The  dates  of  organization  of  the  several 
lodges  and  encampments,  and  the  names  of 
their  first  officers  arc  as  follows  : 

Lodges — Centre  No.  18,  December  25, 
1844,  Wm.  Sullivan,  N.  G.,  E.  B.  Hoyt,  sec- 
retary, J.  B.  McCbesney,  treasurer;  Phi- 
losenian,  No.  44,  July  S,  1847,  Hervey 
Brown,  N.  G.,  W.  W.  Wright,  secretary, 
John  J.  Owsley,  treasurer;  Capital  No. 
124,  January  20,  1853,  John  D'.inn,  N.  G., 
Wra.  Wallace  secretary,  Geo.  F.  .McGinnis, 
treasurer;  Germania  No.  129,  January  24, 
1853,  Chas.  Coulon,  N.  G.,  Julius  Boetti- 
cher,  secretary,  B.  H.  Mueller,  treasurer; 
Encampments — Metropolitan  No.  o,  July 
20,  1846,  J.  P.  Chapman,  C.  P.,  Edwin  Hed- 
derly,  H.  P.,  B.  B.  Taylor,  secretary,  A.  C. 
Chrisfield,  treasurer;  Marion  No. 35,  March 
24,  1853,  Obed  Foote,  C.  P.,  J.  K.  Kn:rli.<h, 
H.  P.,  A.  Dereis,  secretary,  Geo.  G.  Holman, 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


67 


tT-c:isurer;  Teutoniii  No.  57,  August  13, 
1?55,  Geo.  F.  Meyer,  C.  P.,  Chap.  Coulon, 
H.  P.,  F.  H.  Tapkiug,  secretary,  Alex. 
Metzger,  treisurer. 

A  State  convention  of  brass  bands  was 
held  at  Masonic  Hall,  February  2'J,  under 
George  B,  Downie,  as  leader.  Twelve  or 
thirteen  bands  were  present,  and  engaged  in 
a  contest  for  a  prize  banner,  which  was  ta- 
ken b}'  the  New  Albany  band.  A  similar 
convention,  eight  or  niue  bauds  being  in 
attendance,  was  held  at  the  same  place, 
November  '29,  1853,  under  C.  W.  Cottam, 
as  leader. 

The  taxing  power  of  the  council  being 
restricted  under  the  charter  of  1S47,  it  was 
proposed  in  December,  1552,  to  adopt  the 
general  incorporation  actof  1852,  but  much 
opposition  arising,  the  project  wns  not 
pressed  at  that  time.  In  March,  1S53, 
however,  the  council  adopted  the  general 
net,  and  the  city  was  governed  under  it 
till  March,  1S57.  Tiie  elections  were 
charged  from  April  to  May,  and  all  the 
ofiicers  and  councilmen  were  elected  annu- 
ally. 1450  votes  were  cast  at  the  election. 
May  3d,  under  the  new  law.  Caleb  Scud- 
dcr  being  chosen  mayor,  Daniel  B.  Culley, 
clerk,  A.  F.  Shortridge,  treasurer,  Matthew 
Little,  assessor,  Benj.  I'ilbean,  marshal,  N. 
B.  Taylor,  attorney,  Win.  Hughey,  street 
commissioner,  and  James  Wood,  engineer. 
The  new  otncors  and  council  assumed  their 
duties  May  6th,  and  Joseph  Little  was 
elected  first  chief  fire  engineer.  The  re- 
ceipts of  the  cit}'  for  the  year  ending  May 
1,  1S53,  were  i;iU,905,  expenditures  $7,030. 

The  fire  tax  amounted  to  §2,093,  ex- 
penses, $2,018;  clock  tax.  31,005,  expenses, 
§18;  school  fund,  §6,745.  expenses,  .§6,458, 
in  building  houses,  etc.  §S95  had  f>een  ex- 
pended for  cisterns,  five  of  which  were 
finished,  five  in  progress,  and  six  others  lo- 
cated. The  council  chamber  was  removed 
in  June,  from  Hubbard's  b'.ock  to  Dunlop's 
building,  then  lately  finished,  and  in  1855, 
to  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  then  completed.  The 
new  city  assessment  in  July,  gave  of  per- 
gonal property.  §1,239,507;  real,  §3,831,875; 
total,  $5,131,682,  and  1.450  polls.  35  per- 
sons paid  tax  on  over  .§20.000  of  property, 
and  59  on  from  10  to  §20,000.  Until  July, 
the  marshal  was  the  only  police  officer  in 
the  city,  but  in  that  month  he  was  author- 
ized to  appoint  a  deputy.  The  council 
fixed  the  salaries  of  the  officers  in  Septem- 
ber;  that  of  the  mayor  being  §000  ;  cl-rk, 
§600;  marshal,  $500;  engineer,  §800; 
Btreet  commissioner,  §400 ;  clerk  of  mar- 
kets, §350;  sexton,  §80;  deputy  m.i.rshai, 
§400;  councilman,  each  meeting,  §2. 

The  fourth  Presbyterian  church  on  Dela- 
ware and  Market  streets,  was  contracted 
for  in  May,  and  built  during  this  and  next 


year,  though  not  finally  finished  till  within 
a  few  years  past.  The  third  Presbyterian 
church,  on  Illinois  and  Ohio  streets,  was 
also  begun  this  year,  but  not  completed 
for  several  years  after.  The  towers  are 
now  being  built.  The  tower  of  the  fourth 
Presbyterian  church,  about  one  hundred 
and  forty  feet  in  height,  is  entirely  of 
brick,  the  only  one  so  built,  and  is  the 
tallest  brick  structure  in  the  city.  The 
outside  of  the  church  is  st\iccoed.  These 
were  the  finest  and  most  expensive  church 
edifices  in  the  city  when  erected,  but 
have  since  been  surpassed  by  the  first  and 
second  churches. 

John  Frcem.an,  an  old  and  respectable 
colored  citizen,  was  arrested.  May  2l5t,  as 
the  fugitive  slave  of  Pleasant  Ellington, 
and  taken  before  William  Sullivan,  U.  S. 
Commissioner.  The  case  caused  great  ex- 
citement. Crowds  thronged  the  court 
room,  writs  of  habeas  corpus  were  issued, 
and  successful  efforts  made  to  delay  the 
case  to  get  evidence.  Freeman,  in  the 
mean  time,  had  to  lay  three  months  in  the 
jail,  guarded  by  special  marshals,  while 
his  attorney  went  south  to  gel  witnesses. 
Several  planters  came  on  from  Georgia, 
proved  his  freedom,  and  on  the  27th  of 
August  he  was  released.  This  case  had 
no  small  influence  on  political  matters  af- 
terward, and  made  many  earnest  oppo- 
nents of  slavery  among  those  who  had 
been   formerly  indifferent  on   the  subject. 

The  fourth  of  July  was  celebrated  in 
the  forenoon  in  the  usual  manner,  by  six- 
teen Sabbath  schools,  at  the  .State  House; 
by  four  fire  and  hose  companies,  with  the 
Franklin  band,  in  the  afternoon,  and  by 
the  Turners  in  the  evening,  south  of  the 
city. 

A  temperance  excitement  arose  during 
the  summer,  and  out-door  meetings  were 
held  on  tiie  corners,  and  in  front  of  the 
saloons,  during  July,  August  and  Septem- 
ber. A  ccnmittee  was  appointed  in  the 
last  month,  to  wait  on  the  sellers,  and  re- 
ported forty-four  then  engaged  in  the  bus- 
iness, most  of  whom  liad  agreed  to  quit  it. 
The  meetings  were  kept  up  at  intervals  for 
a  year  or  two. 

All  the  omnibuses  in  the  city  having 
been  bougiit  by  Garner  &  Plant,  an  omni- 
i  bus  company  was  formed  on  the  1st  of 
August,  and  lines  established  from  the 
depot,  and  along  Washington  street,  but 
the  enterprise  was  abandoned  as  unremu- 
nerative,  after  two  or  three  months   trial. 

A  great  fire,  on  the  evening  of  the  10th 

of  August,  consumed  the  extensive  .^tables 

on   Maryland    and   Pearl   streets,  back    of 

the   Wright    House,    and    other    buildings 

I  were  repeat<^dly  on   fire,  but  by  great  ex- 

j  ertions  ou    the   part  of  citizens  and  fire- 


GS 


HISTORY   OF 


nien,  the  fire   ■was  confined  to  the  stables  I 
aloue. 

The  Indianapolis    Coal  Co.  was  formed  | 
in    the    spring,    ■working    ir.iiies    in    Clay  | 
county,  and    the    first  loads  of  coal  ■were  j 
sent   to   our   market   during    the    snaimer 
and   fall.     Ilitlierto    "wood    had    been    the 
only  fuel  used  here,  being  cheap  and  plen- 
tiful.    The  first  horse-power  ^vood-sawing 
machine   was    used   on   street   during   the 
fall,  creating  much  excitement  among  the 
boys. 

The  first  number  of  the  Frie  Press,  a 
German  independent  ■\Teekly  paper,  ap- 
peared September  od.  and  has  beeu  reg- 
ularly issued  to  the  present  time.  It  is 
owned  hj  a  stock  company,  and  has  gene- 
rally supported  the  republican  party.  The 
company  is  also  publishing  the  Daihj  Tele- 
grc.ph,  the  only  German  daily  paper  in  the 
city. 

An  auction  stock  exchange  Tras  started 
by  AVilliam  Y.  M'iley,  in  October,  ■weekly 
sales  and  meetings  being  held,  but  the 
city  was  too  small  to  support  such  an  en- 
terprise, and  it  was  abandoned  after  sev- 
eral ■weeks  trial.  No  subsequent  etl'ort 
has  been  made  to  revive  it. 

The  famous  dissenting  Priest  Gavazzi 
delivered  t^wo  eloquent  lectures  on  the  pa- 
pacy, at  Masonic  Hall,  October  28-9,  lo 
crowded  houses.  Lucy  Stoi.e,  at  the  same 
place,  on  the  24th,  25th  and  26th  of  No- 
vember, and  3d  of  Pectiuber,  delivered 
addresses  on  ■woman's  rights  and  wrongs. 
Ole  Bull  gave  his  flr.^t  concert  here,  in 
the  .s«me  hall,  on  the  Oih  of  December,  in 
company  wiih  Maurice  Strakosch  and  the 
now  world-renowned  Adalini  Patti,  then  a 
child  of  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age. 
Ole  Dull,  since  that  time,  has  given  sev- 
eral concerts  here,  the  last  being  in  Feb- 
ruary, IbGS.  During  Christmas  week,  W. 
H.  Howard  gave  several  theatrical  per- 
formances, which  he  terminated  by  run- 
ning off  and  leaving  his  company  unpaid. 

Much  improvement  had  taken  place  in 
the  city  during  the  summer  and  fall,  and 
it  was  s'.ipposed  that  c'oOO.OUO  had  been 
expended  in  the  erection  of  houses. 

18  54.  The  Y'oung  Men's  Christian 
Association  was  organized  on  the  21st  of 
March,  and  has  since  steadily  and  aucccs- 
fuUy  pressed  forward  in  a  useful  work.  It 
made  efforts  to  collect  a  library,  and  from 
1855  to  the  present  time,  has  given,  each 
winter,  a  series  of  lectures  by  distinguished 
persons.  Rooms  have  been  rented,  an 
agency  oiTice  opened,  a  city  missionary  ap- 
pointed, and  sabbath  schools  organized  un- 
der its  direction. 

2012  votes  were  cast  at  the  city  election 
on  the  1st  of  May.      The  oiiicers    elected 


will  be   found  in  the  table  heretofore  ]iub-   i 
lished.     A  great   storm  occurred    .May  13.    ■ 
blowing  down  trees,  fences  and  llobiiison's    \ 
atheneum  tent,  injuring  several  persons  in    ; 
the  audience.      Robinson,  during  the  sum-    i 
mer  and  fall,  fitted    up  the  third   story  of   \ 
Kiliolt's  building,  on  the  corner  of   .Mary-    ' 
land  and  Meridian  streets,  and  commenced    : 
the    theatrical   season    in    the   fall,  ending    i 
April    14,  1855.     The  company  was  unu-   i 
sually  good,  comprising  R.  J.  .Miller,  Yan-    j 
kee  Beirce,  Yankee  Robinson,  F.  A.  Tannv-    : 
hill,  McWilliams.  J.  F.   Lytton,  H.   W.  and    ' 
D.  W.  Waugh,  Mrs.  Robinson,  .Mrs.  Beirce, 
Miss  Mary  .Mc^Villiams,  and  others.     He 
introduced  Miss  Susan  Donin   to  un  India- 
napolis audience.      She  had  two  encage- 
menis  during  the  season,  and  aroused  great 
interest   among    the  drama-loving  part   of 
the  community.       She    was   succeeded    by 
Maggie  Mitchell  and  J.  P.  Adilams. 

The  marshal  was  the  only  police  ollicer 
until  July,  1853,  when  he  was  authorized 
to  appoint  a  deputy,  but  on  the  14th  of 
September  of  this  year,  the  council  estab- 
lished a  police  force  of  fourteen  men,  with 
ja  captain;  Jefl'erson  Springsteen  being 
I  chosen  the  first  chief.  This  force  was  con- 
'  tinned  till  December  17,  1855,  when  the 
}  ordinance  was  repealed,  and  the  whole 
squad  and  the  deputy  marshal  discharged: 
the  marshal  again  being  left  the  only  po- 
I  lice  officer  in  ilic  city.  The  repeal  arose 
I  from  the  general  discontent  at  the  expense 
I  attending  the  maintenance  of  the  force, 
;  and  at  the  conduct  of  the  police  in  en- 
'.  forcing  the  liquor  law.  Conliicts  had  oc- 
!  curred  immediately  after  the  law  took  ef- 
i  feet,  between  the  Germans  and  the  police, 
I  and  on  the  1st  of  August,  an  attempt  to 
j  make  an  arrest  on  east  Washington  street 
I  resulted  in  a  riot,  in  Ivhich  several  of  the 
j  Germans  were  shot.  A  citizens'  meeting, 
held  immediately  afterward,  at  the  court 
I  house,  sustained  the  police,  proffered  the 
j  aid  of  one  hundreil  special  piolicemen  in 
I  each  ward,  and  determined  on  the  enforce- 
I  ment  of  the  law,  and  preservation  of  the 
'  peace.  The  council  also  commended  the  act 
j  of  the  police.  The  ill  feeling  gradually 
I  subsided,  but  the  general  discontent  over 
i  the  matter  resulted  at  last  in  the  discharge 
I  of  the  force.  For  a  month  or  two  aftor- 
I  ward,  the  streets  were  much  disturbed  by 
!  noisy  rioters,  among  whom  (as  it  was 
i  charged  at  the  time,)  were  a  number  of 
;  ev-policemen,  who  tlius  evinced  their  de- 
I  sire  for  re-employment,  and  demonstrated 
!  its  necessity.  The  papers  soon  asked  for 
I  another  force,  and  the  council,  on  the  21st 
i  of  January,  185G,  created  one  of  ten  men, 
I  one  to  each  ward  and  three  at  large,  ■with 
!  a  captain  ;  Jesse  M.  VanBlaricuni  being 
i  chosen    chief.      This  force  continued    till 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1S18. 


€0 


after  the  May  election,  when  the  new 
(leDjocratic  council  discharged  it,  and  by 
ordinance  allowed  tlie  city  marshal  to  ap- 
point one  policeman  to  each  ward,  with  a 
captain;  Charles  G.  Warner  being  selected 
for  the  post.  Tlie  republicans  repealed 
this  ordinance,  May  18,  lS-j7,  and  passed 
another,  by  which  the  council  elected  seven 
policemen  and  a  captain  ;  A.  D.  Rose  be- 
ing choien.  Two  additional  policemen  at 
large  v^erc  appointed  in  ISoS,  and  Samuel 
Lefever  elected  captain.  A.  D.  Rose  suc- 
ceeded in  18.39.  The  force  was  increased 
M.iy  11,  ISGl,  to  two  men  from  each  ward, 
and  on  tlie  2d  of  July,  ISiJl,  was  fixed  by 
new  ordinance  at  fourteen  men  and  a  cap- 
tain; A.  D.  Hose  retaining  the  post.  He 
held  it  till  October,  and  then  entered  the 
army,  being  succeeded  by  Thos.  A.  Ram- 
sey. The  two  day  policemen  were  dis- 
charged in  November.  John  R.  Cotton 
was  chosen  chief  in  .May,  1SG2.  Two  day 
patrolmen  were  again  ad'led,  and  the  men 
first  uniformed  at  the  expense  ef  the  citj-. 
Thos.  D.  Amos  was  chosen  chief,  May  19, 
1803,  and  the  force  increased  to  one  lieu- 
tenant, seven  day  and  eighteen  night  pa- 
trolmen. D.  M.  Powell  succeeded  as  chief, 
May  2-3,  1803.  During  the  fall  much  trou- 
ble was  experienced  iu  preserving  the 
peace,  in  consequence  of  the  great  number 
of  rowdies  in  the  city,  and  on  the  4th  of 
December  a  new  ordinance  was  passed  re- 
organizing the  force.  On  the  4th  the 
mayor  was  authorized  to  appoint  detect- 
ives, and  on  the  21st  the  military  authori- 
ties were  asked  to  detail  guards  to  assist 
the  police.  The  request  was  granted,  and 
until  after  the  war  a  strong  guard  mate- 
rially aided  in  preserving  order  in  and 
around  the  city;  the  guard  headquarters 
being  at  the  police  office.  A  new  ordi- 
nance fixing  police  districts,  was  passed 
March  21,  1S'J4,  and  amended  May  9ih, 
and  Samuel  A.  Cramer  elected  chief.  On 
the  third  of  October,  twenty-six  special  po- 
licemen were  added,  during  ilie  6tate  fair. 
Complaints  being  made  of  the  insufficiency 
of  the  force,  the  council,  on  the  othof  De- 
cember, 18tJ4,  authorized  an  addition  of  six- 
teen men  until  the  second  Tuesday  in  May, 
1SG5,  and  raised  the  chief's  salary  to  ;51,- 
500.  The  pay  of  the  men  was  also  in- 
creased once  or  twice  during  18o3  and 
1SG4,  being  finally  fixed  at  §2.50  and  $3.00 
per  day.  Jesse  VanHlaricura  was  chosen 
chief  in  tlie  spring  of  IS'j.j,  with  two  lieu- 
tenants, nine  day  and  eifrlueen  night  pa- 
trolmen, tv/o  detectives,  and  sixteen  special 
men  under  his  command.  He  served  till 
April,  Ifcot),  when  1  hos.  S.  Wilson  was  elect- 
ed chief,  and  still  holds  the  office.  The 
force  has  been  maintained  for  the  last 
three  or  four  years   at  an   annual  cost  of 


$2-3,000  or  §30,000,  and  now  consists  of 
about  thirty   men. 

In  September,  1SG5,  .Mr.  A.  Coquillard 
organized  a  merchants"  police  force  for  the 
patrol  of  the  business  squares  along  Wash- 
ington street,  and  on  the  IGth  of  Oc- 
tober the  council  recognized  the  force, 
granting  it  police  powers.  A.  D.  Rose 
took  the  control  of  it  in  September,  ISGG, 
and  is  now  at  its  head.  It  is  composed  of 
twelve  men,  paid  by  the  parties  whose 
property  it  guards.  la  addition  to  the 
regular  and  merchants'  police,  there  is  a 
force  of  three  or  four  men  at  the  Union 
Depot,  appointed  by  the  company,  and  con- 
firmed by  the  council,  and  invested  with 
police  powers. 

18  3  5.  A  financial  panic  had  occurred 
in  liie  West  during  the  fall  of  1854.  The 
Free  state-stock  banks  had  very  generally 
stopped  payment,  and  their  notes,  which 
formed  the  great  bulk  of  the  circulation, 
were  passing  at  a  heavy  discount.  Rail- 
way and  other  pending  enterprises,  were 
greatly  embarrassed,  and  nearly  all  those 
in  progress  suspended  operations.  Trad- 
ers and  manufacturers  were  tui'ch  cramp- 
cil,  and  general  distrust  prevailed  among 
business  men.  A  bankers'  convention 
was  held  here  on  the  7th  of  January  to 
classify  the  notes  of  the  suspended  banks 
and  fix  discount  rates  according  to  the 
value  of  their  securities.  The  rates  were 
accordingly  fixed,  but  not  adhered  to  even 
by  those  w  ho  made  them,  and  the  discounts 
were  raised  or  lowered  at  the  caprice  of 
brokers,  entailing  great  losses  on  the  com- 
munity, and  making  large  sums  for  the 
operators  iu  the  business. 

The  mayors  of  the  several  cities  of  the 
State  mec  in  convention  at  this  point  on 
the  22d  of  January,  for  consultation  and 
mutual  improvement,  but  without  any  visi- 
ble result. 

A  colored  lithographic  engraving  of  the 
city,  as  seen  from  the  top  of  the  Blind 
Asylum,  was  published  in  January  by  J. 
T.  Palmatary. 

A  deep  and  lasting  snow  fell  in  Febru- 
ary, afi'ording  fine  sleighing. 

A  number  of  cases  of  small  pox  occur- 
red in  January,  and  as  the  disease  began 
to  spread  during  February,  the  council,  on 
the  10th  of  March,  ordered  the  erection  of 
a  hospital.  Several  lots  were  bought  in 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  plat,  plans 
adopted,  and  the  house  begun;  but  the 
uiscdse  atid  panic  soon  subsided,  funds  ran 
low,  and  the  house  was  suspended  or  pros- 
ecuted at  intervals  for  years,  and  was  not 
finished  till  the  spring  of  1859,  requiring 
a  new  joof  and  other  repairs  in  the  mean- 
time. Its  erection  was  due  to  Dr.  Livings- 
toa   Dunlap,  councilnian    from    the   Sixth 


I    i 


70 


HISTORY  OF 


^ 


■ward,  who    persevered   against  all    obsta- 
cles till  his  object  was  achieved.     It  cost 
about  S3l),000,  and  remained  unused,  ex- 
cept as  a  rendesvous   for  bad  characters, 
till  April,  ISGl.     It  was  proposed  in  Feb- 
ruary,  ISGO,    to  sell    it,    but    the    council 
committee  reported  in  favor  of  renting  it. 
During  the  summer  it  was  proposed  to  use 
it  as  a  city  prison  or  a  house  of  refuge,  or 
a  home  for  friendless  women;   but  each  of 
these  projects   was   successively    defeated. 
The  Sisters  of  Chartiy,  on  the  "Jlst  of  June, 
asked    its   use,  under  tlieir  control,  as    a 
hospital,  but  otlier  christian  denoraiuations 
opposed  the  plan,  and  the  application  -was 
•withdrawn.     The  council  finally,    on    the 
21st  of  July,  granted  it  to  a  society  of  la- 
dies as  a  home  for  friendless  women.     It 
was  not  occupied,  however,  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  was  given  rent  free  to  a  keeper, 
who  was  to  take  care  of  it.     After  the  war 
feegan    and   the    sudden    concentration    of 
men    at   this   point,  the    sick   were    taken 
there,  and  the  council,  on  the  18th  of  May, 
granted  its   use    to   the  government  for  a 
hospital,  and  it  was  occupied  as  such  till 
July,  IbGo,  and  as  a  soldiers'  horae  till  No- 
vember,   1865,    when,    with    the   additions 
r,ud    iruprovenieuts,    it     was    surrendered 
again    to   the    city.     These   iinprovements 
consisted  of  two  large  three-story  ells,  sev- 
eral outbuildings,    fences,    trees,    gardens, 
if-CG.      They   had  been   offered  for   sale   by 
the  government  authorities,  but  were  final- 
ly surrendered  to  the  city  with  the  build- 
ing in  lieu  of  rent.     After  the  government 
vacated    it,    Rev.    August   Piessonies,  Jan- 
uary 2d,  186C,    submitted   a  proposition  to 
the  council  to  give  tlie  house  to  the  Sisters 
of  the  Good  Shepherd,  as  a  citj'  prison  for 
females,  and  also  asked  that  the  unfinished 
house   of  refuge   be  deeded   to  them,   to  be 
finished  and  used  as  a  reformatory  school 
for    abandoned    feniHles.     These    proposi- 
tions were  opposeii  by   the  citizens,  and  a 
subscription  of  J'J.OOO  made  to  finish   the 
house  of  refuge,  and  Mr.  Bessonies'  propo- 
sition was  defeated.     The  house  remained 
vacant  till  Ihe  sjiring  of  18tJ6,  when  about 
$2,000  were  spent  in  buying  hospital  fur- 
niture   and    supplies    at    the   government 
sales  at  Jeifersonville.     A  loard  of  direct- 
ors was  elected.  Dr.  G.  V.   Vi'ooUon  chosen 
superintendent,  a  corps  of  consulting  phy- 
sicians and   surgeons   appointed,   and  the 
hospital  opened  for  patients  July  1st,  18S0. 
It  has  since  been  conducted  at  an  expense 
of  six  or  seven  thousand  dollars  per  year. 
Two  thousand,  six  hundred  and  ninety 
votes  were  cast  at  the  .^Iay  election.     The 
revenue    for    general    purposes,   for    ISoJ 
amounted  to  $20,500;  school  fund  $10,300. 
The  general  expendituresjexhausted  the  re- 
ceipts  and   left  r.   debt  of  So07 — the  bal- 


ance left  in  the  school  fund  was  §6,880.  j 
The  street  improvements  requiring  consid-  j 
erable  l%bor  in  the  engineer  department,  ! 
the  council,  in  July,  first  authorized  the  | 
office  of  assistant  engineer,  at  S300  salary,  i 
A  wood-measurer  was  also  appointed  for  | 
the  newly-established  wood  markets.  A 
market  house  was  built  this  year  on  South 
street,  between  Iielaware  and  Alabama  I 
streets.  liut  few  markets  were  held  there,  i 
ami  ihe  hou5e  was  torn  down  in  1838. 

The  first  city  directory  was  issued  this 
year  by  Grooms  &  Smith.  Directories  have 
since  been  issued  by  A.  C.  Howard,  Henry 
E.  McEvoy,  J.  T.  Talbott,  Sutherland  & 
McEvoy,  J.  C.  Sutherland,  H.  H.  Dodd  & 
Co.,  Richard  Edwards,  A.  L.  Logan  and 
others. 

The  liquor  law  took  effect  June  12th, 
and'  tlie  county  agency  was  started. 
The  law  was  generally  observed  for  a  few 
weeks,  and  unusual  order  and  quiet  reign- 
ed on  the  streets,  but  on  the  2d  of  July 
R.  Beebee  was  arrested  for  selling  liquor, 
fined  and  imprisoned;  the  case  went  to  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  the  impression  gain- 
ing ground  that  the  law  would  be  declared 
uucoustitulional,  it  was  soon  generally 
disregarded  and  the  traffic  reopened. 

Blake's,  Drake's,  Fletcher's,  Drake  & 
Mayhew's,  Blackford's  and  other  additions 
to  the  city  were  made  in  1854—5,  and  the 
lots  mostly  disposed  of  and  their  improve- 
ment begun.  Between  sixty  and  eighty 
addii^ions  and  sub-divisions  have  been 
made  to  the  city  since  the  first  one  was 
made  by  John  Wood,  in  June,  183o. 

Tiie  fourth  of  July  was  celebrated  by 
the  Sabbath  Schools  at  the  State  House 
yard,  in  the  usual  manner.  Nineteen 
schools,  comprising  2,100  children,  par- 
ticipated. The  firemen  paraded  in  the 
afternoon,  making  a  fine  display.  The 
Hope  company,  of  Louisville,  then  visit- 
ing here,  was  in  the  line. 

The  Indianapolis  Building,  Loan  Fund 
and  Savings  Association  vras  organized 
in  October,  and  continued  its  existence 
for  several  years,  its  object,  being  to  make 
loans  to  its  members  at  ostensibly  low 
rates  of  interest,  to  aid  in  building  houses. 
The  Marion  Loan  Fund  and  Savings  Asso- 
ciation, a  similar  organization,  was  started 
in  March,  1856.  These  organizations 
when  wound  up,  failed  to  realize  the 
hopes  of  their  projectors.  The  Indianap- 
olis Fuel  Association  was  formed  on  the 
i  31st  October,  and  supplied  its  members 
I  during  the  winter,  with  wood  and  coal  at 
j  but  little  over  one-half  the  rates  charged 
in  the  open  markets. 

A  women's  rights  convention  was  held 
at  .Masonic  Hall,  October  22d  and  23d, 
Mrs.     Rebecca    Swank,    President.      Mrs. 


INDIANArOLIS  FROM  1818. 


Lucretia  Mott,  Ernestine  L.  Rose,  Frances 
D.  Ga?e,  Adaline  Swift,  Haniel  L.  Cutler, 
and  Joseph  Barker,  of  PiKsburg.  and 
other  speakers  addressed  the  convention. 
But  few  persons  attended,  and  the  more- 
ment  excited  no  remark. 

The  city  was  well  supplied  with  amuse- 
ments this  year.  The  Black  Swan,  with 
the  African  Mario,  sang  at  Masonic  Hall 
on  the  'Jd  of  May,  (she  acjain  visited  the 
place  iu  the  spring  of  I'r^oS.)  Dii  Bufe's 
paintings  of  Adam  and  Eve  were  shown 
M.ay  2:J-G,  at  Washington  Hall.  Powers's 
Greek  Slave,  October  19-25,  at  College 
Hall;  Parodi,  with  Maurice  and  Mad;im 
Strakosch  and  others,  sang,  Dec.  lOlh, 
at  Masonic  Hall.  Brown  and  Commons 
opened  the  Atheneum,  May  14,  ending  the 
season  June  '23,  with  C.  J.  FyfFe,  manager, 
and  J.  F.  Lytion,  Beaver,  and  otliers,  iu 
the  company;  Harry  Chapman  and  his 
wife,  Mrs.  A.  Drake,  William  Powers 
and  James  E.  Murdoch  were  the  stars. 
Murdoch  left  in  disgust  before  the  close 
of  his  eugagetaent.  Coinsaons  re-opened 
the  Atheneum,  September  loth,  ending 
the  season  December  8th,  with  Tlios  Dull:', 
manager,  and  about  the  same  company; 
Eliza  Logan,  Joseph  Proctor,  Susan  and 
Kate  Denin,  Peter  and  Caroline  Richings, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Florence  were  the 
stars.  Yankee  Robinson  had  returned  dur- 
ing the  fall,  and  wintered  here  with  his 
circus  company.  An  amphillieatre  was 
fitted  up  in  Delzell's  stable,  on  east  Pearl 
street,  and  horse  opera  given  during  the 
winter. 

The  first  efi"ort  at  numbering  the  houses 
on  Wasliington  street,  was  made  during 
the  fall,  but  no  settled  system  was  adopted 
and  the  numbering  was  pir.tial  and  faulty. 
The  Council,  in  July,  l^oS,  authorized  A. 
C.  Howard  to  number  all  the  streets  of  the 
city,  f.nd  the  work  was  completed  during 
the  fall,  but  the  system  was  defi.'Ctive  in 
numbering  only  the  houses  then  built, 
and  the  work  was  badly  done,  resulting  in 
confusion  as  new  building's  were  erected. 
The  Council,  in  June,  18G4,  adopted  a  sys- 
tem authorizing  fifty  numbers  to  the 
sfjuare.  The  work  of  renumbering  was 
done  by  A.  C.  Howard,  and  the  plan  has 
since  been  followed  iu  the  numbering  of 
new  buildings. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
gave  their  first,  course  of  lectures  during 
the  fall  and  winter.  Park  Benjamin,  Rev. 
Mr.  Butler,  David  Paul  Brown,  Edwin  P. 
Whipple,  Henry  B.  Staunton,  H.  W.  Ells- 
worth, Bishop  Simpson,  and  Edward  P. 
Thompson  being  the  lecturers. 

185G.  The  General  Couference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  met  on  the 
ist  of  May,   iu  the   hall  of    the  house  of 


representatives,  and  continued  in  ees.'^ion 
for  about  a  month,  attended  by  the  full 
board  of  Bishops,  and  the  leading  men  of 
that  denomination.  The  delegates  were 
the  guests  of  citizens  of  all  the  churches, 
and  the  pulpits  of  the  churches  were  filled 
each  Sabbath  by  preachers  in  attendance 
at  the  conference.  The  session  was  im- 
portant and  interesting,  and  drew  the  at- 
tci\tiou  of  the  whole  country  to  this  r.ity. 
It  was  the  first  national  body  meeting 
here. 

The  city  election  took  place  May  6th, 
2,77G  votes  being  cast,  the  democrats  elect- 
ing the  whole  city  ticket,  with  ten  out  of 
fourteen  councilmen. 

The  assessment  for  this  year  amounted 
to  $7,14G,G70,  S1,S'.>2,152  being  personal 
property.  The  receipts  in  the  general 
fund  for  the  past  year  were  $27,889,  ex- 
penditures S46,105.  The  di?bt  ou  the  1st 
of  May,  18o4,  was  So67;  May  1st,  1855, 
5;n,0Li0;  May  1st,  1856,  515,295.  It  was 
proposed  to  fund  the  debt  by  a  loan,  and 
Jeremiah  D.  Skeen  was  chosen  iu  August, 
bj'  the  Council,  as  financial  agent,  to  sell 
city  bonds  in  the  New  York  market.  He 
accordingly  went  there,  aiid  not  succeed- 
ing in  negotiating  a  loan  for  the  city,  hy- 
pothecated the  bonds  for  $5,000,  which  he 
applied  to  his  own  use.  The  defalcation 
was  discovered  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and 
unsuccessful  efforts  made  to  recover  the 
bonds.  The  naoney  was  finally  paid  by 
the  city  to  the  parties  who  had  advanced 
the  money  to  Skeen.  Suit  was  brought 
against  Skeen  and  his  sureties,  and  judg- 
nieut  finally  recovered  in  January,  I5G8, 
for  the  principal  and  interest  of  the  de- 
falcation. 

Alfred  Stevens,  the  City  Clerk,  died 
October  2Gth,  and  George  H.  West  was 
appointed  Clerk  pro  tempore,  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy. Henry  F.  West,  .Mayor  of  the 
City,  died  November  8th,  and  was  followed 
to  the  grave  by  an  immense  concourse  of 
citizens.  He  was  the  only  incumbent  of 
that  office  who  has  died  during  the  term. 
He  had  been  an  earnest  .ind  active  pro- 
moter of  the  public  schools,  and  their  suc- 
cess had  been  largely  due  to  his  cflorts  as 
trustee.  The  Council  ordered  a  special 
election  to  be  held,  November  22d,  to  sup- 
ply vacancies  in  the  offices  of  Clerk  and 
Mayor.  It  was  held,  and  for  the  fir't 
time  in  several  years  the  democrats  were 
beaten.  Two  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
thirty-one  votes  were  csist;  William  J. 
Wallace  was  chosen  Mayor,  and  Frederick 
.^tein,  city  Clerk.  The  republicans  ia- 
dulged  in  wild  demonstrations  of  delight 
when  the  result  becameknown. 

Early  in  February,  Dunlevy,  Haire  i 
Co.  began   business   as   brokers  and   run- 


ners  of  the  State  and  free  b:\nk3,  iu  the 
interest  of  Cinciunati  bankers.  Iu  two 
months  S'J,000,000  of  the  circuhition  was 
returned  for  redeniptiou.  causing  such 
financial  stringency  tliat  a  State  commer- 
cial convention  was  hehi  here,  in  April, 
to  protest  ngiinst  the  course  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati ami  Indianapolis  brokers  iu  crip- 
pling the  trade  and  resources  of  the  State, 
by  contracting  the  circulating  medium. 
Delegates  from  Cleveland,  St.  Louis,  To- 
ledo and  Louisville,  were  in  attendance. 
Bitter  resolutions  were  adopted  in  regard 
to  the  conduct  of  Cincinnati  business  men 
and  bankei's,  and  efforts  were  made  to  di- 
vert the  trade  of  Indianapolis  to  other 
points.  The  meeting  had  the  effect  to  se- 
riously diminish  the  war  on  Indiana 
banks,  and  open  other  markets  to  our  peo- 
ple. 

Clinton  Watson  opened  an  exchange 
ftnd  reading  room  in  August,  in  the  room 
over  Harrison's  bank,  but  the  enterprise 
failed  iu  a  few  weeks  from  want  of  pat- 
rons. 

Professor  T'use}'  made  a  balloon  ascen- 
sion on  the  28th  June,  and  attempted 
another  on  the  4th  of  July,  but  failed  for 
want  of  Butiicient  gas.  The  usual  cele- 
bration of  schools  and  firemen  occurred, 
and  in  the  afternoon  the  first  fantastic 
parade  attracted  great  crowds. 

The  political  canvass  this  year  was  unu- 
sually animated  and  bitter,  both  parties 
putting  forth  their  full  strength,  and  hold- 
ing frequent  great  ■conventions.  The  lar- 
gest republican  demonstration  was  held  on 
the  loth  of  July,  attended  by  many 
thousands  of  persons  from  all  parts 
of  the  State.  A  great  procession  took 
place,  and  an  almost  equally  great  torch- 
light procession  at  night,  closing  with  fire- 
works and  balloon  ascensions.  During 
the  afternoon,  a  border  ruffian  demonstra- 
tion and  dramatic  representation  of  the 
designs  of  the  slave  interest,  and  life  in 
Kansas,  was  given  by  a  club  of  young  men 
in  fantastic  dress,  and  with  proper  acces- 
sories. It  created  great  amusement  at  the 
expense  of  the  opposite  party,  and  was  re- 
peated with  effect  by  the  club  at  several 
other  points  during  the  canvass.  The  lar- 
gest democratic  convention  followed  on  the 
17th,  closing  also  with  a  torchiigiu  proces- 
sion at  night,  and  in  numbers  and  enthu- 
siasm vied  with  that  of  their  opponents. 

A  great  storm  of  wind  and  rain  took 
place  November  21st,  doing  considerable 
dami'.ge,  not  only  hero,  but  all  over  the 
western  States. 

The  Indianapolis  Art  Society  was  formed 
during  this  or  the  next  year,  and  lield  an- 
nual drawings  for  several  years,  under  the 
direction  of  a  committee,  at   Herman  Lei- 


ber's  print  and  picture  store,  where  the 
pictures  (mostly  by  Indianapolis  or  Indi- 
ana artists.  1  were  placed  on  exhibition. — 
.Messrs.  Jacob  Cox,  I'.  Fishe  Heed,  Jas.  F. 
Gookins  and  others,  being  contributors. — 
The  paintingM  were  purchased  by  an  asso- 
ciation, at  tlieir  value,  each  member  con- 
tributing a  stipulated  sum,  and  the  pic- 
tures were  divided  by  lot.  .Many  good 
paintings  wt-re  thus  distributed  at  small 
cost  among  tlie  citizens. 

Tiio  Young  .Mens'  Literary,  and  the 
Young  .Mens  Christian  Associations  each 
gave  a  course  of  lectures  during  the  win- 
ter. Charles  Sumner,  J.  B.  Gough.  T.  A. 
Mills,  S.  S.  Cox,  Elihu  Burritt  and  others, 
appearing  before  our  people.  Judson, 
John  and  .A.sa  Hutchinson  sang.  January  22, 
at  Masonic  Hall.  Ole  Bull  appeared  Feb- 
ruary 27,  Signer  Blitz,  (the  elder.)  in 
April,  Tom  Thumb  in  July,  I^liss  Kichinga 
October  10th,  and  oOth;  Strakosch,  Paroui, 
Tiberini,  .Morini,  and  Paul  Julieu,  Novem- 
ber24th;auda  State  musical  convention 
under  George  F.  Pvoot,  was  held  there  No- 
vember 20-1.  W.  L.  Woods  opened  the 
atheneum  in  March,  for  one  month ;  W. 
DaviJge  being  the  only  noted  star.  It  was 
reopened  by  Vance  &  Lytton,  May  16.  clo- 
sing June  3;  Eliza  Logan,  Miss  Kichings, 
and  Mrs.  Coleman  Pope,  being  the  stars. — 
It  was  opened  by  MadJocks  &  Wilson  sev- 
eral times  in  June  and  July,  for  a  day  or 
two  at  a  lime.  Wilson,  Pratt  ^s:  Co.  ap- 
peared there  during  the  State  fair;  Yankee 
Bierce  and  the  Maddcrn  sisters  early  in 
December,  and  on  the  D3th  of  December  it 
was  opened  by  Lytton  &  Co.  for  the  season, 
closing  March  9,  lSo7.  The  company  in- 
cluded Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Pt.  J.  Miller,  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Lacey,  Tannyhill,  Lytton,  and  others. 
Sue  Benin,  Dora  Shaw,  John  Drew,  Char- 
lotte Crumpton,  Mrs.  Drake  and  Miss  Du- 
val, appeared  as  stars.  It  was  reopened 
for  a  few  days,  afterward,  for  benefits,  and 
in  March  1567,  for  a  week  or  two,  under 
C.  J.  Smith,  as  manager. 

18  57.  The  Germans,  during  the  fall 
of  ISoO,  had  requcstel  that  a  portion  of 
the  city  free  school  fund  should  bo  set  apart 
for  the  support  of  German  schools,  and  the 
council  in  December  had  requested  the 
trustees  to  report  whether  the  project  was 
feasible  and  proper.  They  reported  against 
it  in  January,  1857,  stating  that  the  fund 
and  school  accommodations  were  insuf- 
ficient for  the  schools  then  in  operation. 
There  were  nine  houses  (two  of  them 
rented,)  and  the  old  seminary,  in  use.  prop- 
erly accommodating  twelve  hundred  pu- 
pils, while  eighteen  hundred  were  in  at- 
tendance. The  fund  for  ItiJtj  had  amount- 
el  to  S27,CC0,  the  expenses  to  810.42^^;  bal- 
ance $7, GIG.     There  were  thirty-five  teach- 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


ers  ernfiloyed  in  June,  and  2,730  children 
enrolled,  being  about  forty-four  per  ceut. 
of  tbe  childrea  in  the  city,  and  but  sev- 
enty-three per  cent,  of  those  enrolled  were 
iu  d.aily  atteudance.  The  first  ward  house 
had  been  raised  to  two  stories,  in  1S54,  and 
the  fifth  w.'ird  house  in  ISJG.  The  eighth 
ward  house  was  built  this  year.  D.  V. 
Culley,  John  Love  and  N.  13.  Taylor,  were 
elected  trustees  in  January.  la  .\UfrusL 
there  were  tweni^'-nine  sabbath  schools, 
with  two  thousand  nine  huodrcd  and  fifty 
scholars. 

The  city  council  on  tlie  ICth  of  March 
adopted  the  new  incorporation  law  as  the 
city  charter,  under  which  the  city  officers 
and  couticilmen  were  elected  for  two  years. 
Three  thousand  three  hundred  votes  were 
cast  at  the  May  election,  each  party  elect- 
ing part  of  its  ticket.  The  council  organ- 
ized and  drew  for  short  and  long  terms, 
and  elected  Andrew  Wallace  chief  fire  en 
gincer.  The  receipts  in  the  general  fund 
for  the  past  j-ear  were  S3"J,Gy7;  expendi- 
tures 631,003;  balance  SI, -32;  debt  S23,- 
740;  bchool  fund  520,329;  expenses  $15,- 
3S4;  b-ilance  $4,915.  The  assessment  was 
S9, 874, 700,  and  a  tax  levy  for  general  pur- 
poses of  sixty  cents  on  each  $100.  The 
salaries  of  the  city  officers  wpre  fixed  as 
follows  :  Mayor  $800,  clerk  $G00,  marshal 
$500,  deputy  S400,  attorney  $400,  street 
cciuuiissioner  $450,  engineer  SCOO,  clerk  of 
markets  S300,  sexton  $80,  chief  fire  en- 
gineer S175,  treasurer  four  per  cent,  on 
current  and  six  per  cent,  on  delinquent 
receipts,  and  councilmen  $2  each  meeting. 

On  the  22d  of  May  the  German  Turn- 
ers had  a  celebration,  procession,  address 
and  gymnastic  exercises  on  the  military 
grounds. 

The  spring  had  been  backward  and  wet, 
and  on  the  10th,  12th  and  IGth  of  June 
there  were  tremendous  thunder  storms, 
resulting  in  a  sudden  and  high  freshet  in 
Wliitc  river  and  other  streams  in  the  State. 

A  brilliant  comet  appeared  iu  the  west- 
ern sky  in  the  latter  part  of  June. 

The  Fourth  of  July  was  celebrated  by 
the  Sabbat h-sohools  only,  the  firemen  not 
parading,  and  the  Guaris  were  at  Lex- 
itigton  attending  tlie  Clay  monument  dedi- 
cation. This  celebration  was  notable  only 
as  the  last  general  one  held  b}'  the  schools. 

Meetings  were  held  in  July  by  the  busi- 
ness men  to  encourage  the  establishment 
of  exclusively  wholesale  dry  goods  and  no- 
tion houses.  A  committee  appointed  by 
the  meeting  reported  that  though  there 
were  seventy-five  establishments  and  thir- 
ty-two manufactories  which  did  a  whole- 
sale business  to  a  greater  or  less  extent, 
there  was  but  one  exclusively  wholesale 
dry     goods    house    iu    the    place.     Blake, 


Wright  &  Co.,  started  a  dry  goods  hotise 
in  response  to  the  demand  of  the  meeting; 
but  the  cutcrprisj  was  short  lived. 

There  were  two  riots  iu  July  iu  wliioli 
the  firemen  were  prominent  actors,  attack- 
ing houses  of  ill  fame  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city,  destroying  the  furniture 
and  injuring  the  btiildings.  Several  af- 
fairs of  this  kind  occurred  afterv.-ard  iu  this 
and  the  following  years,  the  firemen  being 
principal  actors  in  all  of  them. 

The  county  fair  this  year  was  a  failure 
on  account  of  unfavorable  weather,  but 
the  State  fair  was  the  most  sncccssful  ever 
held  here,  there  being  over  three  (housaad 
seven  hundred  entries  of  articles  for  exhi- 
i  ition,  and  the  gate  receipts  amounting  to 
nearly  $14,000.  .\  vast  crowd  was  in  at- 
tendance during  the  three  leading  days.  A 
griind  p.%rade  of  our  fire  department,  with 
visiting  companies  from  New  Albauy  and 
Dayton,  was  held  during  the  fair, 

A  negro  was  arrested  here  in  December 
under  the  fugitive  slave  law.  The  arrest 
catised  much  excitement,  and  being  fa- 
vored by  the  crowd,  he  escaped,  but  was 
recaptured  after  a  long  chase  in  the  north 
part  of  the  city,  and  remanded  to  his  mas- 
ter in  Kentucky,  being  convoyed  thither 
by  a  large  squad  of  heavily  armed  deputy 
marshals. 

Dodworth's  New  York  band,  ninety  in 
number,  gave  a  concert  on  the  30th  of  June 
on  the  military  grounds,  under  contract 
with  H.  Stone,  of  Cleveland,  in  his  gift  con- 
cert enterprise.  Tn:-y  al.;o  gave  a  concert 
at  night,  in  .Masonic  ball,  for  their  own  ben- 
efit; but  neither  of  the  performances  was 
largely  patronized. 

Edward  Everett  delivered  his  Mt.  Ver- 
non lecture  on  the  4th  of  May  at  Masonic 
hall.  Thalberg,  Parodi  and  Mollenhauer 
gave  a  concert  .May  7th  at  tiie  hall.  Dud- 
ley Tyng,  Horace  Greeley,  Tlx-Gov.  Bout- 
well  and  others  lectured  during  the  f'^ll 
and  winter  for  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
.■Is.-ociation.  Mr.  Kunz  and  his  daughters 
gave  a  series  of  German  theatrical  per- 
formances, during  June  and  July,  at  the 
.•\pollo  Gardens.  Stetson  &  Wood  opened 
the  Atheneum  September  oth,  with  Mr.  aud 
.^I^s.  Harry  Cha]iman  and  an  indifferent 
company,  closing  November  2d. 

The  Indianapolis  Daily  Citizen  was 
started  May  14th,  1557,  by  Cameron  &  Mc- 
Neely,  at  their  office,  10  east  Pearl  street. 
It  was  regularly  issued  by  them  till  June, 
1S5S,  when  it  was  discontinued.  It  was 
republican  in  politics,  and  well  conducted. 
The  Western  Presage,  a  literary  and  polit- 
ical weekly  paper,  was  first  issued  by 
liidwell  Bros,  at  81  east  Washington  street, 
January  3J,  1857.  It  was  the  exponent 
of  advanced  republican  ideas,  was  issued 


; 


74 


HISTORY   OF 


in  expensive  stjle,  resuUing  in  the  failure 
of  the  firm  and  the  discontinuance  of  the 
paper  in  April.  It  deserved  a  longer  life 
and  better  fate. 

Much  building  was  done  in  1S57.  Tlie 
block  opposite  the  court-house,  the  Episco- 
pal, and  Third  and  Fourth  Presbyterian 
churches,  the  United  States  post-oiScc, 
Metropolitan  Theatre  f^nd  many  other 
prominent  buildings  being  in  progress. 

18  5  8.  The  question  as  to  tlie  constitu- 
tionality of  the  free  school  tax  was  deci- 
ded iu  January  by  the  Supreme  Court, 
against  the  tax.  The  citizens  of  each  ward 
were  requested  by  the  city  council  lo  meet 
and,  if  possible,  devise  means  by  which 
the  system  could  be  maintained.  The 
meetings  were  held  January  2'Jtli.  It  w.is 
resolved  to  continue  ths  schools,  and  cue 
thousaud  one  hundred  scholarsliips, amount- 
ing to  So,000,  were  subscribed  to  keep 
them  going  for  the  current  quarter.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  they  stopped,  th3 
teachers  left,  the  system  was  broken  up, 
and  the  houses  were  closed.  Some  effort 
was  made  to  re-establish  private  schools, 
and  the  free  echools  were  opened  each 
j'car  fur  a  short  time  under  the  State  law. 

Three  thousand,  three  h;indred  and  for- 
ty-three votes  were  polled  at  the  May  elec- 
tion, the  republicans  electing  the  entire 
ticket  and  a  majority  of  the  couucilmen. 
The  council  elected  Samuel  Lefevcr  chief 
of  police,  and  the  fire  association  having 
presented  the  name  of  Jos.  ^'>'.  Davis  for 
chief  fire  engineer,  he  was  elected  to  that 
office  on  the  l.'2d  of  May.  Much  dissatis- 
faction arose  among  the  firemen  at  his 
election,  and  from  this  date,  till  November, 
1859,  when  it  was  disbanded,  the  efficien- 
cy of  the  department  was  much  impaired. 
The  opposition  to  Mr.  Davis  was  mainly 
o^^ing  to  his  imperious  manner,  for  other- 
wise he  was  a  good  executive  officer.  The 
assessment  of  city  property  for  the  current 
year  showed  a  total  of  $10,475,000,  and 
the  increase  in  buildings  over  last  year 
was  $600,000. 

The  spring  of  1857  had  been  unusually 
wet,  and  the  spring  und  early  summer  of 
this  year  were  still  more  so.  Constant 
and  heavy  rains  fell  from  early  in  April 
to  ihe  middle  of  June.  Great  storms  oc- 
curred on  the  llthof  April,  the  11th  and 
12th  of  May  and  about  the  10th  of  June. 
Pogue's  run  completely  flooded  its  val- 
ley on  the  12th  of  Ajiril.  Several  street 
bridges  were  swept  ofi';  the  Central  rail- 
road bridge  giving  way  as  a  locomotive 
was  passing  over,  throwing  it  into  the 
creek.  The  culvert  under  the  canal  was 
also  carried  off.  V>'hile  river  was  over  the 
bottoms  repeatedly  during  the  spring,  and 
ou  the  14th  of  June  reached   a   point  but 


little  below  the  flood-mark  of  1847,  caus-  ; 
ing  great  loss  in  fencing  to  the  farmers  i 
along  the  valley.  The  wet  season  was 
succeeded  by  very  hot,  dry  weather,  and  j 
on  the  2Gth  of  June  eight  cases  of  sun-  | 
stroke  occurred,  five  of  them  being  fital.  i 
Several  cases  happened  the  next  day,  and 
for  two  or  three  days  afterward  all  persons  I 
kept  in  tlie  shade  as  much  as  possible.  I 

A   brilliant  comet,    which  passed    very 
near  the  earth  in  its  course,  was  visible  in    j 
the  western  heavens  iu  September  and  Oc-    | 
tober,  its  train  bending  like  a  bow. 

A  Bible  investigating  class  was  origi- 
nated during  the  summer  or  fall,  holding  ! 
meetings  every  Sunday  at  the  court  house, 
for  investigation  of  tlie  authenticity  of 
the  Scriptures,  or  the  meaning  of  disputed 
passages.  Atheists,  Deists  and  members 
of  all  orthodox  churches  participated  in 
the  discussions,  which  weie  often  keen  and 
searching,  sometimes  acrimonious.  The 
meetings  were  kept  up  during  this  and  the 
next  year,  were  well  attended,  excited 
much  interest,  and  if  they  did  no  other 
good,  at  least  caused  more  study  of  the  Bi- 
ble by  some  persons  than  they  otherwise 
ever  would  have  given  it. 

Four  or  five  miles  of  mains  were  laid  by 
the  Gas  Company  during  tlie  summer  and 
fall,  and  several  miles  of  streets  were 
liehted.  Much  building  and  street  im- 
provement also  were  undertaken.  Black- 
ford's block,  the -Etna  building,  r^Ietropoli- 
tan  Theater  and  tlie  ^Va3hington  street  cul- 
vert over  Pogue's  run  were  built. 

The  4th  of  July  happening  on  Sunday, 
no  general  celebration  took  place.  The 
3d  and  5th  were  devoted  to  pic-nics  by  the 
schools,  firemen  and  Turners,  the  military 
companies   going  to   Richmond. 

A  Jewish  church,  Rev.  T.  Weschler,  was 
organized  in  August,  worshipping  in  Ju- 
dahs'  block  till  IStJG,  when  the  Synagogue 
on  east  Market  street,  built  in  18G5-0,  was 
completed  at  a  cost  of  $25,000,  and  occu- 
pied by  the  congregation. 

There  was  great  rejoicing  and  an  ex- 
temporised illumination  on  the  night  of 
the  7th  of  August,  over  the  completion  of 
the  Atlantic  Cable,  and  on  the  17th  a  for- 
mal celebration  of  that  event  took  place  in 
the  Circle,  with  a  display  of  fire-works 
and  an  oration  by  Governor  'Wallace.  Tlio 
National  Guards  held  a  three  days  en- 
campment, in  (October,  on  White  river, 
north-west  of  the  city. 

The  Indianapolis  Academy  of  Science 
was  organized  during  the  summer,  R.  T. 
Brown,  J.  W.  Barnitz,  and  others,  being 
prominent  in  the  matter.  A  room  iu  Ju- 
dahs'  block  was  rented,  meetings  and  dis- 
cussions held,  papers  read  on  scientific 
subjects,   and    a  considerable    cabinet   of 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


geological  specimens  accumulated,  bat  the 
community  not  taking  sufficient  interest 
in  it,  the  society  was  suspended  in  July 
1860,  and  its  collections  scattered. 

Lectures  and  amusements  were  not  lack- 
ing this  year.  Thomas  F.  Meagher  lec- 
tured, February  17th,  at  Masonic  Hall. 
Ormsby  M.  Mitchell  began  a  series  of  as- 
tronouiical  lectures  there,  October  'JTth, 
B.  F.  Taylor,  M.  F.  Maury,  E.  L.  Youmans, 
Bayard  Taylor,  L'r.  Holland,  and  others, 
lectured  during  the  season  before  the 
YouHg  Men's  Christian  Association,  .-in- 
drew  Jacksou  Davis,  the  "I'okepsie  seei"," 
gave  a  series  of  spiritual  lectures  there, 
beginning  December  IGth.  The  German 
singing  societies  of  the  State  held  a  con- 
vention, June  10th-13th,  with  a  pro- 
cession and  grand  coucert.  A  German 
theatrical  troupe  appeared  at  the  Alho- 
neum  in  August,  and  in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary there  vrere  two  German  theaters  at 
Washington  and  Union  halls.  Sam.  and 
Kate  Denin  Ryan  had  appeared  with  a 
small  company  at  "Washington  Hall  in 
April.  Harry  Chapman  during  the  State 
Fair,  opened  the  Athencum,  Mrs.  Drake 
and  J.  K.  Mortimer  appearing  on  the 
boards.  It  had  also  been  opened  for  a  few 
nights  by  strolling  companies,  several 
times  during  the  summer. 

The  dramatic  event  of  the  year,  how- 
ever, was  the  opening  of  the  Metropolitan 
Theater,  the  first  building  specially  devo- 
ted to  amusements  here.  It  ivas  erected  by 
Valentine  P.utsch  in  ISoT-S,  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Washington  and  Tennessee 
streets.  The  corner  stone  vms  laid  in 
August  1S57,  and  the  house  opened  Sep- 
tember 27,  1858.  The  building  was  eighty- 
two  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet, 
three  stories  high,  of  brick  stuccoed  in  im- 
itation of  sandstone,  and,  with  the  lot,  cost 
when  conipletely  fitted  up,  about  $58,- 
000.  The  cellars  and  ground  floor  are 
used  for  business  purposes.  I'he  dress  cir- 
cle and  parquet  are  well  arranged,  but  the 
gallery  was  not  well  designed  for  a  proper 
view  of  the  stage.  T!ie  building  will  com- 
fortably seat  about  twelve  hundred  persons. 
The  interior  was  neatly  frescoed  and  gil- 
ded by  artists  from  Cincinnati,  and  the 
scetiery  was  mostly  painted  by  S.  W. 
Gulick. 

E.  T.  Sherlock  was  the  first  manager 
and  lessee,  opening  September  27th,  1S38, 
with  a  rather  indifferent  company,  and 
closing  Feb'y  29th,  ISJ'J.  Harry  Chap- 
man continued  it  as  manager  till  March  13, 
1&-3H.  The  Keller  troupe,  H.  W.  Gossin, 
Sallie  St. Clair,  Hacket,  Dora  Sliuw,  the  Flor- 
ences, J.  B.  Roberts,  Mr§.  J.  W.  Wallack, 
Mrs.  Howard,  Adah  Isaacs  Menken,  the 
Cooper   opera    troupe,    Eliza    Logan,    Mr. 


and  Mrs.  Waller,  Mrs.  Edwin  Forrest,  ilr.    I 
Sedlcy  and  Miss  Matilda  Heron  appeared    1 
as  stars  during  the  season.     George  Wood    ! 
i  Co.  opened  it  again  for  a  short  time  in 
April.     John  A.  Ellsler  opened  it  in  .April,    i 
1S59,  for  a  two  months  season;  Miss  Kim-    I 
herlyj   Collins,  and  Kate   and   Sam   Ryan    | 
appearing  as  stars.     He  again  opened  it, 
October  1st,  the  season  closing  >l.irch  2d, 
ISOl.     The  \Vebb  sisters.  Miss  Ince,  Sallie 
St.  Clair,   ^Marion    McCarthy,    F.  A.  \'in- 
cent,  Barras,  J.  B.  P^oberts,  the    Richings 
and    others    being    the    stars.     The    war 
having    begun,    and    thousands    of    men 
thronging  here,  the  theatre  was  re-opened 
by  Mr  Butch,  as  proprietor  and  man-iger, 
on  the  2jth  of  -Vpril,  F.  A,  Vincent  being 
stage  manager,  and  Miss  McCarthy  lead- 
ing lady.     A  good    company  was  also  se- 
cured, and  from  this  date  until  after  the 
close  of  the  war,  the  enterprise  was  well 
supported    and    profitable.     Most    of    the 
leading  members    of    the  stock    company 
continued  here  for  several  successive  sea- 
sons, and  some  of  them,  as  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hodges,  and  F.  C.  White,  until  the  thea- 
tre    was    finally    closed    in   the  spring    of 
1SG8.     Vincent    continued  as   stage  man- 
ager until    IS'33.     William  H.  Riley  then 
succeeded,  holding   that    position    till  the 
spring    of    IS'jI.      He    then    removed     to 
the    St.    Charles    theatre,    New     Orleans, 
dying    shortly    after    his    arrival    there. 
2*1.  V.  Lingham  became  manager  for  the 
season     of     lSo7-8,    and    in     the    spring 
of  ISoS  Charles   R.  Pope  became  tlie  last 
manager,  with  a  good  company,  and  giv- 
ing the  people  the    most  brilliant  season 
ever     witnessed     there.      Edwin     Forrest 
played  an  engagement  of  five  nights,  be- 
ginning March  IGth,  to  crowded  houses,  at 
;  double     the    usual    rates    of     admission. 
Since  April,   1861,  nearly  all  the  leading 
actors  and  actresses  in   the  country  iiave 
appeared  on  the  boards  of  the  Metropol- 
itan,   and  among  others,  Adelaide  Ristori 
appeared  there  with  her  company,  under 
Gratis'  management,    on    the  2Gth  March, 
18t'.7. 

The  theatre  has  not  been  so  well  sup- 
ported since  the  close  of  the  war.  Its  po- 
sition was  against  it,  being  too  far  west. 
The  proprietor,  Mr.  Putsch,  eariy  in  1S':S, 
purchased  Miller's  Hal!,  (then  nearly 
completed,)  on  the  corner  of  Illinois  and 
Ohio  streets,  for  about  550,000,  and  has 
fitted  it  up  in  tasteful  style  for  a  theatre 
and  music  hall,  to  be  opened  in  the  fall  of 
this  year.  The  building  is  much  larger 
than 'the  old  theatre,  and  the  auditorium 
will  comfortably  accommodate  a  much 
larger  audience.  The  old  theatre  will 
her'eafter  bo  used  for  concerts,  i.:;cture3, 
meetings,  lic. 


7G 


HISTORY   OF 


18  5  9.  Some  eftbvts  were  made  in  Jau- 
uary,  to  organize  a  corporation  for  n  Uni- 
veisity  at  this  point,  and  in  February  an- 
applicntion  was  made  to  the  Assembly  for 
a  lease  of  University  Square  lor  a  term  of 
niuety-nine  years,  as  a  site  for  the  cou- 
temphtted  buildings,  tjie  propo'ty  to  be 
surrcTi'lc-red  to  the  State  at  ihn  end  of  the 
term.  .A.3  there  was  some  doubt  as  to  the 
ownership  of  the  square,  between  the  city 
and  the  State,  the  application  was  not 
granted,  and  the  project  was  dropped. 
The  city  terminated  tlie  dispute  as  to 
ownership  in  1S60,  by  taking  possession 
of  the  square  and  the  military  grounds. 
The  old  seminary  was  torn  down  in  Au- 
gust and  September,  ISGO,  and  the  square 
improved  as  a  park.  In  ]SG7-8  the  mili- 
tary grounds  were  fenced,  and  also  im- 
proved as  a  park,  at  the  expense  of  the 
city.  Tiie  ownership  and  possession  of 
the  city  will  probably  be  uncontested  here- 
after. 

The  pas  company  liaJ  Laid  a  number  of 
miles  of  mains  during  18-58,  and  during 
this  year  were  still  further  extending  the 
pipes.  Many  applications  for  street  lamps 
had  been  granted,  and  others  were  pend- 
ing, and  as  no  uniformity  existed  in  the 
position  of  the  lamps,  or  their  number  to 
the  square,  and  no  regulations  had  yet 
been  adopted  on  the  subject,  the  Council, 
on  the  12th  of  February,  passed  an  ordi- 
nance prescribing  a  goner;:!  plan  for 
lighting  the  city,  fixing  the  number  of 
lamps  at  four  for  each  square,  and  their 
position,  and  distance  from  each  other. 
Under  this  ordinance  several  arlditioual 
miles  of  streets  were  lit  for  the  first  time, 
in  the  fall  and  winter  of  this  year, 
Washington  street,  from  Pennsylvania  to 
New  Jersey,  and  Illinois  from  Washing- 
ton to  North  street,  being   in   the  number. 

Early  in  1854  a  number  of  young  men 
had  formed  a  gymnastic  association, 
adopted  by-lawB,  fixed  admission  fees, 
dues,  &c.,  and  elected  oiTicers.  The  third 
Btory  of  Blake"s  commercial  row  was 
rented,  and  fitted  up  with  a  complete  set 
of  apparatus.  The  gymnasium  was  popu- 
lar, and  well  patronized  for  two  or  three 
months,  but  as  the  novelty  wore  off  and 
the  hard  work  began,  the  interest  rapidly 
lessened,  and  but  few  steadily  availed 
themselves  of  its  advantages  for  exercise 
and  health.  The  association  declined  for 
want  of  member.^,  and  died  in  a  year  or 
two,  after  spasmodic  efforts  to  continue 
it.  No  further  effort  was  made  till  March, 
or  April,  1859,  when  the  Indianapolis 
Gymnastic  Association  was  formed,  with 
Simon  Yandes,  President,  and  Thomas  H. 
Bowles,  Secretary.  A  code  of  rules  was 
adopted,  and  the  third  story  of  the  Athe- 


neum  building  rented,  and  fitted  up  wiih 
gymnastic  apparatus,  bowling  allevs.  c\c., 
at  a  cose  of  about  SI, 'JOG.  and  the  room 
opened  for  use  in  June.  The  older  men 
were  also  invited  to  share  iu  the  enter- 
prise, and  v.ith  their  aid  it  did  very  well 
for  two  or  tliree  years,  the  bowling  alleys 
and  chess  tables  largely  adding  to  its  at- 
tractiveness. The  interest  gradually  di- 
minished, however,  and  though  the  ladies 
were  asked  to  share  its  advantages,  the 
organization  became  defunct  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the   war. 

A  grand  procession  and  celebration  by 
the  Odd  Fellows  took  place  on  the  i:Jih  of 
.■\pril. 

In  .April,  Kev.  Gibbon  Williams  bought 
the  house  and  one  and  a  half  acres  of 
ground  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  .Michigan  streets,  and  shortly 
afterward  opened  the  Indianapolis  Female 
Institute,  a  school  which  has  increased  in 
importance  and  prosperity  to  the  present 
time.  The  building,  (at  first  small  and 
ill  arranged)  was  greatly  enlarged  and 
improved  at  several  subsequent  periods, 
and  at  present  is  one  of  the  largest  edu- 
cational structures  in  the  city,  having  a 
capacity  for  nearly  two  hundred  boarding, 
and  three  hundred  day  pupils.  Rev.  .Mr. 
Williams  left  in  18*j3,  and  was  succeeded 
in  the  presidency  of  the  institution,  by 
C.  W.  Hewes.  A  full  corps  of  able  pro- 
fessors are  connected  with  the  college, 
anil  the  number  of  pupils  has  steadily  in- 
creased since  its  origin. 

The  city  election  took  place  May  Sd,  the 
city  officers  being  elected  for  two  years, 
and  the  councilmen  for  four  years,  under 
the  amended  charter  adopted  by  the  assem- 
bly March  1,  1850.  At  the  same  time  a 
proposition  was  submitted  to  the  general 
vote  of  the  people  to  divide  the  first  and 
seventh  wards,  so  that  two  new  wards 
should  be  created,  forming  the  eighth  and 
ninth  wards,  but  the  result.of  the  vote  was 
largely,  against  it.  The  proposition  was 
again  submitted  to  vote  iu  May  ISiJl  and 
carried  by  six  hundred  and  twenty-one 
majority.  Councilnjen  were  elected  from 
the  nev<-  wards,  but  were  refused  their 
seats,  and  tlie  wards  were  unrepresented 
for  a  year  or  two  afterward. 

The  city  clerk  reported  the  receipts  from 
May  8,  1858  to  May  30,  1859,  at  $71,  211, 
expenditures  the  same,  with  a  debt  of  $9,- 
317.  The  total  city  assessment  for  the 
year  was  S7,14G,G77.  The  treasurer  re- 
ported the  receipts  from  May  8,  185S  to 
.May  1,  1859  at  ^59,108.  Expenditures 
S50,442,  the  leading  items  being  $10,232 
for  the  fire  department;  gas  $1,771;  watcli- 
man  $4,882.  The  salaries  of  the  city  of- 
ficers were  raised  in   May  and  June.     The 


bouldering  of  Wa?hii)gtoii  street,  between 
Illinois  and  MeriJiin  streets,  (the  first  done 
here,)  had  been  ordered  in  April  and  was 
done  in  May,  and  further  street  improve- 
L'.onts  Tvere  designed.  The  council,  iu  view 
of  the  probable  expenditures,  fixed  the  tax 
levy  at  'sixty  cents,  vrhich  so  aroused  the 
tax-payers  that  ihey  held  a  public  meeting 
June  'Jl'd,  to  protest  against  it.  They  lit- 
tle kuer.'  what  was  in  store  for  them  in 
the  fu;i;re. 

A  proposition  was  entertained  by  the 
council,  during  the  spring,  to  build  a  City 
Hull  on  the  lot  south  of  the  Journal  office 
on  Meridian  street,  but  no  final  notion 
was  taken.  The  city  otfices  and  council 
room  were  located  in  the  Odd  Fellows  Hall 
where  they  remained  till  May,  18G2,  when 
a  lease,  for  ten  years,  was  secured  of  the 
upper  stories  of  Gleuns'  block.  EtI'orts 
have  often  been  made  to  secure  the  erec- 
tion of  a  City  Hall  and  prison,  but  without 
success. 

The  General  Assembly  of  the  Old  School 
Pr'^sbytevian  church  met  in  tlie  basement 
room  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  church, 
May  18'h,  continuing   in   S(?ssion    till   the 


caused  much  excitement,  especially  among 
country  visitors  and  the  ladies,  thous.iti'js 
of  whom  impatiently  awaited  the  siran-^e 
display.  It  proved  to  be  all  that  fancy 
paiuled  it,  and  the  procession  was  accom- 
panied through  its  midnight  march  by  a 
multitude  of  half  crazy  spectators,  though 
tlie  gravity  of  the  puissant  Knights  and 
reverend  prelates  was  sadly  disturbed  by 
the  noisy  advice  of  the  street  boys,  "  go 
faster  old  tin-head,''  "  step  up  brass  moun- 
ted man." 

On  the  23d  of  August,  Adam  Deltz  drank 
eight  gallons  of  lager  beer  together  with  .'v 
bottle  of  brandy,  inside  of  twelve  hours, 
attaining  a  wide  notoriety  thereby  and 
winning  a  wager. 

Much  improvement  took  place  during 
the  summer  and  fall,  and  a  number  of 
good  business  liouses  were  erected.  Yohns', 
Rays'  and  Glenus'  blocks  being  among 
them. 

The  Daily  Atlas  was  first  issued  by  Joha 
D.  L'efrees  as  editor  and  publisher,  iu  July, 
from  an  office  in  Van  Blaricum's  block,  on 
south  Meridian  street.  The  presses  were 
run    bv  a  small   Ericsson  hot  air  engine^ 


2d  of  June.  Tho  eminent  men  of  the  j  (the  only  one  ever  used  here.)  which  al- 
church  were  in  attendance,  and  the  de-  I  tracted  many  visitors.  The  paper  was 
bates  between  Dr.  McMa&ters  and  N.  L.  j  regularly  issued  till  about  the  end  of  March 
Piico,  and   others,  en  the  establishment  of    Ib'Jl,  and  then  discontinued,  the  material 


11 


and   subscription    list    being    sold    to    the    i|j 
Journal  office.     Several  other    newspaper     l  | 
enterprises  have  been  started  here  before 
and  since  the  Citizen  and  Atlas  were  estab- 
lished.     The    Brookville     American     wfiS 

d 


theological  schools  and  the  policy  of  the 
church  on  the  slavery  question,  excited 
great  interest  and  attracted  crowded  audi- 
ences. 

Tho  national  anniversary  was  celebra- 
ted with  unusual  display.  The  City  Conn-  j  transferred  to  this  point  by  the  editor 
cil  appropriated  3-5"'-' f"i' '^^  purp'^-^i  "^^"^  '  pi'oprietor,  Thomas  A.  Goodwin,  in  l^oT. 
large  subscriptions  were  made  by  individ- !  It  was  afterward  sold  to  Downey  k  Co., 
ur.ls.  The  procession  comprised  the  ar-  wlio  issued  it  as  a  daily  for  a  short  period, 
tillery,  cavalry  and  infantry  companies,  [and  then  sold  the  establishment  to  Jordan 
three  bands.  Turners,  Butchers,  Fenians,  I  &  Purnet.  They  changed  the  name  to  the 
Catholic  societies,  Madison  firemen  and  |  Evening  Gazette.  Dr.  Jordan  afterward 
our  ov,n  fire  department,  seven  companies  I  issued  it  till  the  spring  of  PSG-3,  when  he 


with  eight  engines,  reels,  hook  and  ladder 
wagons  and  a  long  line  of  carriages.  The 
engines  were  beautifully  decorated.  The 
procession,  which  was  nearly  two  miles  in 
length,  marched  through  the  principal 
streets  to  the  old  fair  ground,  where  the 
usual  exercises  occurred,  Caleb  B.  .Smith 
delivering  the  address.  A  great  pic-nic 
dinner  was  spread,  after  which    the   mili 


sold  it  to  Smith  &  Co.  They  afterward 
sold  it  to  Macauley,  Shurtletf  i  Co.,  and 
they  sold  the  olSce  and  list,  in  May  or 
June  1S67,  to  the  Journal  Co.  The  Gazette 
was  issued  most  of  the  time  from  an  ofnce 
in  Hubbard's  block,  and  latterly  from  the 
Sentinel  office  on  Pearl  and  Meridian 
streets.  It  was  well  conducted  during  a 
part   of  its  existence,  and   attained  a  con- 


tary  were  reviewed  by  Governor  Hammond,    siderable  circulation  during  the  war. 

A  grand  fantastic  parade  took  place  in  the  j      The  Daily  Telegraph,    the  oply  German 

evening,  and  a  fine  display  of  fire-works  j  daily  in  the  city,  was  issued   by  the  Free 


at  night.  Over  twenty  thousand  persons 
were  present  at  the  celebration.  It  was 
rumored  in  the  evening  that  the  "  Sons  of 
Malta,"  a  mysterious  organization,  which 
had  rapidly  increased  in  number  during 
the    spring,    would    parade    at    midnight; 


Press  Co.,  in  ISGG,  and  has  continued  to 
the  present  time.  The  office  is  on  west 
Maryland  street. 

The  Evening  Commercial  was  estab- 
lished in  18G7  by  Dynes  i  Co..  and  issued 
from  Downey  S:  Brouse's  Punlii-hing  House 


their  rigid  rules  p.'-eventing  public  der.ion-  j  in    the   Sentinel   building  on    Pearl  street, 
strations  at  any  other  hour.     The   report  |  It   was  subsequently  moved   with  their  of- 


78 


HISTORY  OF 


fice  to  the  old  Journal  building,  on  Circle 
aud  Meridian  streets,  and  is  now  pub- 
lished by  M.  G.  Lee. 

The  y6ar  1859  was  dull  so  far  as  lectures, 
concerts  and  amusements  were  coucerned. 
Geo.  D.  Prt utice  lectured  at  the  hall  on  the 
6th  of  February,  and  Henry  S.  Foote,  of 
Mississippi,  at  Roberts'  chapel,  December 
2d.  Dr.  Boynton  delivered  a  series  of  geo- 
logical lectures,  at  the  hall,  in  December 
and  January,  ISoO.  Miss  Laura  Melrose 
Bang  there  >Iarch  24,  and  the  Cooper  opera 
troupe  April  1st. 

The  coming  political  contest  began  to 
excite  attention.  Gov.  Corwin  addressed 
a  large  serenading  party  at  the  American 
House,  on  the  6th  of  July.  Abraham  Lin- 
coln visited  the  city  for  the  first  tiuie,  and 
addressed  a  large  imdience  at  Masonic 
Hall,  on  the  19th  of  September.  He  was 
personally  unknown  to  the  great  mass  of 
the  citizens,  and  considerable  curiosity  was 
manifested  to  hear  the  man  v.'ho  had  so 
gallantly  struggled  with  Senator  Douglass, 
then  at  the  zenith  of  hir  power. 

Richard  Cobden,  of  Lngland,  then  on  a 
visit  to  this  country,  reached  the  city  on 
the  5th  of  May,  but  remained  a  few  hours 
only,  passing  oa  to  the  north-west.  The 
year  closed  with  excessively  cold  weather. 

ISGO.  The  military  grounds  being 
thought  too  small  to  properly  accommodate 
the  visitors  and  exhibitors,  at  tlie  State 
fairs,  the  agricultural  board  determined  in 
1S59  to  secure  a  large  tract  for  the  pur- 
pose, aud  locate  the  fair  permanently  at 
this  point.  Proposals  were  invited  in  the 
fall  of  1S59,  and  an  unsuccessful  effort 
was  shorth-  after  made  here  to  form  an  as- 
eociation  to  buy  the  grounds  for  the  board. 
An  appropriation  of  So.UOO  was  then  asked 
from  the  city,  and  the  proposition  being 
submitted  in  February  to  a  vote  of  the  peo- 
ple, it  was  authorized.  A  question  arising, 
however,  as  to  the  legality  of  such  an  ap- 
propriation, it  was  not  made.  The  rail- 
ways and  the  board  finally  made  an  ar- 
rangement for  the  purchase  of  the  grounds, 
and  after  mucli  competition  between  the 
advocates  of  various  sites,  the  Otis  grove, 
of  forty  acres,  north  of  the  city,  was 
bought  in  the  spring  of  1800.  Extensive 
and  costly  improvements  were  made  du- 
ring the  summer,  and  the  fair  held  there, 
October  15ih  to  21st.  It  was  not  ag  suc- 
cessful as  had  been  desired.  SI  1,-00  only 
were  realized,  and  apart  only  ofthe  award- 
ed premiums  were  paid.  The  board  was 
seriously  embarrassed  for  several  years 
afterward,  but  is  now  get'ing  out  of  debt. 

In  April  a  Mr.  Fell,  of  Rochester,  New 
York,  submitted  a  plan  for  water  works  to 
the  council.  The  project  was  discussed  at 
a  number  of   meetings.      Estimates   were 


made,  but  no  definite  action  was  finally 
taken.  It  was  again  broached  by  the  cen- 
tral canal  company  in  July,  16G4.  They 
proposed  to  furnish  water  from  their  ditch. 
This  project  was  also  cfiu3i<lercd,  and  com- 
mittees appointed  who  rejiorted  on  it,  but 
the  subject  was  finally  dropped  without 
definite  results.  In  October,  1S05,  the 
Mayor  again  brought  up  the  subject  by  a 
message,  urging  the  building  of  such 
works,  and  recommending  Crown  Hill  as 
the  point  for  a  reservoir  The  council 
passed  a  resolution  declaring  it  expedient 
that  sucli  works  be  built,  and  that  it  was 
inexpedient  for  the  city  to  undertake  them. 
This  action  was  intended  to  invite  propo- 
sals from  private  companies,  but  had  no 
immediate  elfect.  In  .May,  IStjG,  the  Mayor 
again  brought  the  subject  before  the  coun- 
cil, intruJucing  questions  propounded  by 
him  to  James  B.  Cunningham,  civil  engin- 
eer, and  tlie  answers  and  estimates  made 
by  that  gentleman  in  reply.  The  subject 
was  again  brought  up  October  15,  ISOo,  on 
a  proposition  by  Pi.  B.  Catherwood  and  his 
associates  to  build  water-works  if  a  liberal 
charter  was  granted  them.  The  council 
thereupon  by  resolution  declared  it  expe- 
dient tliat  water  works  be  built,  and  inex- 
pedient for  the  city  to  build  tliem.  A 
committee  on  the  subject  was  appointed. — 
It  reported  an  ordinance  on  the  2'2d  of  Oc- 
tober, authorizing  R.  B.  Catherwood  k,  Co. 
as  the  Indianapolis  water  works  company, 
to  build  such  works,  and  furnish  the  city 
and  people  with  water  for  fifty  years.  The 
ordinance,  after  various  amendments,  was 
finally  passed,  November  3,  ISGG.  It  gave 
the  company  the  right,  for  fifty  years,  to 
furnish  the  people  and  city  with  pure 
water,  to  be  taken  from  White  river  or  its 
tributaries,  several  miles  above  the  city. — 
To  use  the  streets  and  alleys  for  pipes,  the 
company  to  repair  the  streets  when  torn 
up.  The  city  reserved  the  right  to  buy  the 
works  after  twenty-five  years;  required 
operations  to  be  commenced  within  one 
year,  and  a  given  sum  to  be  expended 
within  two  years.  Hydrants  and  fire-plugs 
were  to  be  located  where  desired,  and  the 
city  was  to  pay  from  $A'')  down  to  $'Jo,  ac- 
cording to  the  number  ultimately  erected. 
The  amount  of  capital  was  specified,  and 
the  amount  of  profit  on  it  limited  to  fif- 
teen per  cent.,  water  rates  to  be  placed  as 
low,  from  time  to  time,  as  practicable.  The 
company  was  organized  under  the  charier, 
with  R.  B.  Catherwood,  president,  Jno.  S. 
Tarkington,  secretary,  and  accepted  the 
ordinance,  November  5,  ISOtj,  filing  it  with 
the  mayor,  who,  on  tiie  Cth  of  November, 
issued  his  proclamation,  stating  that  fact, 
and  publishing  the  ordinance.  The  com- 
pany,  within  the  year,   and  to  save  their 


Td.        ;< 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1S18. 


charter,  nomiunlly  began  operations  by 
laying  about  fifty  feet  of  pipe  ca  North 
street.  Nothing  bus  since  been  done  with 
the  work. 

So  far  as  a  convenient  an  1  plentiful  sup- 
ply of  vrater  is  concerned,  the  vrorks  •will 
doubtless  be  of  great  benefit,  but  no  sur- 
face water  will  ever  equal  in  puriiy  and 
healthfulness  the  water  now  drawn  from 
wells  sunk  in  the  great  gravel  and  sand- 
beds  underneath  the  city,  and  if  surface 
dr.iinage  was  carefully  prevented,  no  dete- 
rioratiau  in  its  puritywill  occur  for  scores 
of  years.  No  artificial  filters  can  equal 
those  nature  Ims  given  us,  and  the  phos- 
phates and  carbonates  dissolved  by  the 
water  in  its  passage  through  the  sand  are 
those  most  needed  in  the  human  system. 

By  the  treasurer's  report  iu  May,  the  re- 
ceiprs  for  the  past  year  were  SS7.l!02,  ex- 
penditures SSO,172,  balance  $7,0'^'Q,  debt 
$11,553.  The  leading  items  were  for  fire 
department  511,3-33,  bridges  $13,i)lo,  street 
improvements  §14,875,  police  ^5,9:6,  gas 
$6,445.  The  city  duplicate  showed  an  as- 
sessment amounting  to  §10,700,000. 

Street  railroads  in  the  city  were  first 
proposed  in  November  of  this  year,  and  an 
unsuccassful  attempt  was  made  to  form  a 
company  to  build  them.  No  further  action 
was  taken  in  regard  to  them  until  June 
5th,  1SG3,  when  a  number  of  our  citizens 
formed  a  company  under  the  general  law. 
electing  Thon^as  A  Moi-ris  president,  Wm. 
Y.  ^S'iley,  secretary,  and  Wm.  0.  Rock- 
wood,  treasurer.  They  filed  an  application 
with  the  council  on  the  '24th  of  August, 
setting  forth  their  organization,  and  ask- 
ing a  charter  from  the  city.  The  applica- 
tion was  referred  to  a  committee,  who  pre- 
pared an  ordinance  and  submitted  it  for 
the  consideration  of  the  council.  Amend- 
ments were  proposed,  and  while  the  ordi- 
nance was  still  pending,  R.  B.  Catherwood, 
of  New  York,  associated  with  several  of 
our  own  citizens,  formed  the  Citizens' 
Street  Railroad  Company,  with  John  A. 
Bridgland  as  president,  and  proposed 
more  favorable  terms  to  the  council,  agree- 
ing to  begin  the  construction  of  the  lines 
at  once,  and  finish  a  greater  number  of 
miles  in  a  given  time.  The  conipctition 
between  the  two  companies  grew  warm. 
It  was  charged  that  the  Citizens'  company 
was  not  responsible  or  able  to  fulfill  their 
offers.  Tney  responded  to  this  by  paying 
down  nearly  530,000  of  their  capital,  and 
offering  bond  of  $200,000  to  fulfill  all  their 
agreements.  The  council  finally  decided 
the  contest  in  favor  of  the  Icdiauapolis 
company,  granting  them  a  charter  on  the 
11th  of  December,  1.SG3.  They  declined  to 
accept  it  on  the  2Stb  of  December;  and 
the  mayor  having  telgraphcd  that  fact  to 


Mr.  Catherwood,  at  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
he  immediately  answered  that  he  would 
accept  the  charter,  re-organize  the  com- 
pany, and  begin  the  work.  On  the  ISlh  of 
January,  lSf.'>4,  the  council  passed  an  ordi- 
nance giving  the  Citizens"  Street  Railroad 
Company,  (which  had  re-organized,  with 
R.  B.  Catherwood,  president,  E.  C.  Cather- 
wood, secretary,  and  II.  H.  Catherwood, 
superintendent,)  the  right  to  Iny  single  or 
double  tracks  of  railway  on  all  the  streets 
and  alleys  of  the  city,  or  its  future  exten- 
sions. Horse-cars  were  to  be  used  only 
for  transportation  of  passengers  and  bag- 
gage. The  council  retained  the  right  to 
govern  spued  and  time.  The  tracks  were 
to  conform  to  the  street  grades,  and  the 
company  were  to  boulder  between  the 
tr-^cks  and  two  feet  each  side.  The  tracks 
were  to  be  laid  in  the  center  of  the  street, 
or,  if  double,  on  each  side  of  the  center, 
p.nd  not  nearer  the  side-walks  than  twelve 
feet.  Fares  on  any  route  were  not  to  ex- 
ceed five  cents.  The  company  to  repair 
all  damage  to  the  streets,  relay  tracks 
when  the  street  grades  are  changed,  and 
be  liable  to  private  parties  for  all  dama- 
ges they  might  sustain.  They  were  to  re- 
turn annually,  on  the  first  of  January,  a 
full  statement  of  all  property  for  taxation; 
but  each  separate  line  was  to  be  exempt 
from  taxation  for  two  years  from  its  com- 
pletion. Rules  were  prescribed  for  the 
running  and  management  of  the  cars,  and 
the  cars  were  given  riglit  of  T.'ay  against 
all  other  vehicles.  The  charter  was  given 
for  thirty  years,  subject  to  tiie  following 
conditions:  Three  miles  were  to  be  built 
and  fully  equipped  by  October  1,  18G4, 
two  additional  miles  by  October  1,  1865, 
two  additional  miles  by  December  25th 
1866,  unless  a  further  extension  of  time 
was  granted  bj'  the  council,  otherwise  all 
rights,  kc,  under  the  charter  were  to  be 
forfeited.  The  council  reserved  the  right 
to  order  additional  lines  constructed  after 
the  first  seven  miles  were  finished;  and  in 
case  of  failure,  the  company  was  to  forfeit 
the  right  to  that  particular  street  or  route. 
If,  after  ten  years,  the  company  had  not 
built  and  fully  equipped  ten  miles  of  track 
in  the  best  style,  the  council  might  order 
an  appraisement  and  pay  the  company 
therefor,  or  transfer  the  property  and  fran- 
chise to  another  company.  The  ordinance 
was  to  be  in  force  after  two  weeks  publica- 
tion in  the  weekly  Journal. 

The  company  accepted  the  charter,  and 
immediately  began  preparations  for  build- 
ing lines.  Materials  were  collected  du- 
ring the  spring,  cars  ordered,  and  property 
secured  for  stables  and  cur-houses.  Their 
operations  were  somewhat  delayed,  and 
the  iron   and  cars  detained  by   the  use  of 


80 


HISTORY  OF 


the  railvravs  by  government.  But  on  ap- 
plication, the  council,  ou  tne  '21lh  of  Au- 
gust, 18G-i,  extended  the  time  for  sixty 
days,  and  no  forfeiture  of  their  franchise 
occuired.  Tiack-laying  began  on  Illinois 
strcst  at  the  Union  depot,  and  the  line  was 
finished  on  that  street  to  North  street  with- 
in the  year.  Tracks  were  also  laid  on 
Washington  from  Pennsylvania  to  West 
Streets,  and  thence  to  the  military  ground, 
in  lime  for  the  State  fair  in  October.  Tlie 
line  on  Illinois  street  had  been  opened  for 
travel  in  June,  ISoI  —  the  mayor  driving 
the  first  car  on  the  first  trip,  accompanied 
by  the  council,  city  ofticers  and  officers  of 
the  company.  In  the  fall  of  1SG4  the  citi- 
zens along  Virginia  avenue,  having  sub- 
scribed from  $-2o,(j00  to  $oO,000  for  a  bo- 
nus, tlie  company  built  a  single-track 
rofld  from  Washington  street  to  the  end  of 
the  avenue,  making  the  route  along  the 
avenue  and  Washington  street  (whicli  had 
a  double  track  from  Illinois  to  Pennsylva- 
nia street,)  to  Wc^t  street.  The  route  was 
afterward  liniitcd  to  the  avenue  alone, 
causing  mucli  dissatisfaction,  and  the  com- 
pany subsequently  changed  to  the  old 
route,  limiting  it  to  the  avenue  and  Ten- 
nessee street.  In  March,  April  and  May, 
ISCu  the  Massachusetts  avenue  line, 
(which  liad  a  double  track,)  was  laid  from 
Washington  street  up  Pennsylvania,  Mas- 
sachuseets  avenue  and  New  Jersey  street 
to  St.  Clair  street.  In  Juno,  lSo7,  one  of 
one  of  the  tracks  on  New  Jersey  street  was 
taken  up  and  used  to  extend  the  line  on  Ft- 
Wayne  avenue,  and  thence  east  on  Christ- 
ian avenue  to  College  street.  In  October, 
li-CG,  the  Washington  street  line  was  ex- 
tended on  Washington  street  and  the  Na- 
tional road,  (which  had  been  adopted  by 
the  council,  September  ISth,  as  one  of  the 
city  streets.)  to  the  White  river  bridge — 
the  line  to  military  ground  having  been 
taken  up  in  1804  after  the  fair.  The  coun- 
'■'  also  give  the  company  the  right  to  lay 
'iV^ks  on  all  new  streets.  In  tlie  spring 
f-'l'summer  of  ISOU  the  Washington  street 
line  was  extended  east  b-y  single  track  to 
the  culvert  over  Pogue's  run.  The  Illinois 
street  line  was  extended  to  Tinker  street 
in  June  and  July,  18CG,  and  the  line  to 
Crown  Hi!!,  (built  by  a  separate  company,) 
was  begun  in  the  fall  of  1SC6,  and  opened 
for  travel  in  April  or  May,   IBGO. 

In  tlie  spring  of  LSGS,  a  new  line  was  laid 
from  Washington  street  down  Kentucky 
avenue  and  Tennessee  street,  and  east  on 
Louisiana  to  Illinois  street,  being  opened 
for  travel  in  .April.  The  tlrst  stables  and 
car  house  were  built  ou  Tennessee  and 
Louisiana  streets,  in  October,  18G4,  and 
extended  and  improved  in  the  summer  of 
IfeGT.     After  the  first  lines  were  built  and 


opened,  the  company  placed  about  thirty 
two  horse  cars  upon  them,  and  continue^l 
using  them  with  drivers  and  conductors 
till  April,  18G8.  At  one  time  an  ctibrt  was 
made  to  dispensewith  conductors,  hut  after 
trial  for  some  days,  the  company  resolved  to 
adopt  a  different  car.  Tliirty  or  thirty-  ' 
two  one-horse  cars,  requiring  a  driver  only, 
were  procured  during  the  spring  of  18G8,  ' 
and  placed  on  the  different  lines  on  the 
3rd  of  .April.  Tlie  driver  now  merely  fur-  ; 
nishes  change,  the  passengers  themselves 
place  the  fare  in  safety  boxes.  The  cars  . 
are  turned  on  turn-tables  at  each  end  of 
the  route,  and  trips  -ire  mtide  at  greater 
speed  than  under  the  old  system.  The  old 
cars  are  used  only  on  the  Crown  Hill  route, 
or  in  case  of  pic-nics,  or  unusual  demands 
on  the  rolling  stock  of  the  company.  A 
portion  of  them  have^beeu  sold,  eighteen 
or  twenty  only  being  left  at  the  present 
time.  Mules  are  now  almost  exclusively 
used  by  the  company.  No  bouldering  has 
been  done  by  the  company  on  their  tracks, 
except  where  they  run  along  bouldered 
streets,  as  it  is  claimed  that  bouldered 
streets  injured  and  crippled  the  aniriials. 

Five  hundred  and  fifty  round  trips  are 
run,  and  four  thousand  passengers  carried 
over  the  lines  daily. 

At  present,  including  the  Crown  Hill 
line  from  Tinker  street,  and  including  side 
and  double  tracks,  the  company  have  about 
fifteen  mile?  of  finished  and  equipped  road, 
costing  S4G8,000.  They  also  own  fifty  cars, 
employ  sixty-four  men,  and  one  liundred 
and  fifty  mules  and  horses.  The  enterprise 
has  not  been  as  profitable  as  it  v.-as  expect- 
ed to  be.  but  with  the  future  increase  of  the 
city,  its  success  will  be  assured. 

k.  B.  Catherwood  in  September  or  Octo- 
ber ISGo,  sold  the  controlling  interest  in  the 
company  to  Messrs.  English,  Alvord  and 
others.  A  reorganization  took  j'lace,  E.  S. 
.Alvord  becoming  President,  K.F.Fletcher, 
Secretary,  W.  II.  English,  Treasurer,  and 
H.  H.  Catherwood,  Superintendent.  J.  S. 
.Alvord  is  the  present  Secretary,  and  II.  F. 
Fletcher,  Superintendent. 

A  tornado  swept  across  the  St.ate  from 
west  to  east  in  the  afternoon  of  .May  20th, 
18G0,  passing  just  south-east  of  this  city, 
between  5  and  G  o'clock,  p.  m.  It  was  a' 
rapidly  moving,  whirling  cloud,  of  small 
diameter,  described  by  those  who  witnessed 
it.  as  hanging  from  or  cutting  th.rough  the 
clouds  above  and  around  it,  swaying  about 
like  an  elephant's  trunk,  rising  and  falling 
as  it  sped  forward.  Considerable  damage 
was  done  to  houses,  timber,  gardens  and 
fences  in  its  path.  The  residence  of  Gard- 
ner Goldsmith,  at  the  end  of  Virginia 
avenue,  was  thrown  from  its  foundation 
and  partially  destroyed,  and  Goldsmith  was 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


81 


seriously  injured.  It  was  much  more  de- 
structive both  east  and  west,  however,  tlian 
near  this  city. 

Great  preparations  were  made  for  the 
celebration  of  the  fourth  of  July,  the  peo- 
ple feeling  that  it  might  perhaps  be  the  last 
under  a  united  government.  The  proces- 
Bion  included  five  bands,  the  entire  lire  de- 
partuieut  witli  beautifully  decorated  en- 
gim.'3  and  reels,  three  military  companies, 
the  butchers,  gardeners,  various  societies, 
and  a  long  line  of  cariiages.  The  usual 
exercises  took  place  at  the  fair  grounds. 
A  very  large  frame  building  had  just  been 
completed  on  University  square,  by  Mr. 
Perrine,  and  in  the  afternoon  the  military 
conniauics  drilled  there  for  a  prize  of  ;J100. 
A  balloon  ascension  by  J.  <].  Bellman,  took 
place  at  4  o'clock,  p.  m.  He  rose  to  a  great 
hight,  and  landed  ten  miles  from  the  city. 
The  best  display  of  fire  works  ever  given 
here  took  place  at  night  in  the  enclo- 
sure. The  '■Coliseum" — as  it  was  termed — 
could  accommodate  fifteen  or  twenty  thou- 
sand persons,  being,  perhaps,  the  largest 
structure  of  the  kind  ever  built  in  this 
country.  It  was  torn  down  some  weeks 
after. 

Tlie  political  struggle  of  this  j'car  was 
unprecedented  in  its  interest  and  bitter- 
ness, each  party  holding  repeated  monster 
conventions  and  torcli-light  processions; 
every  elfort  being  made  by  each  to  surpass 
the  last  display  by  the  opposite  party.  The 
democrats  held  a  great  meeting  at  the  State 
house  yard  on  the  Stli  of  July,  George  E. 
Pugh  and  C.  L.  Vallandigham  being  the 
leading  Speakers.  The  reiniblicans  far 
eurpassed  this  demonstration  on  the  20th 
of  August,  at  the  old  fairground,  Ccrwin, 
Blair,  Stanton,  Lane,  .Morton  and  oiliers 
being  the  speakers.  A  great  procession 
marched  thither  in  the.  day  time,  aiid  at 
night  a  torch-light  procession,  whicls  in- 
cluded several  thousand  ^Yide  Awakes, 
formed  on  University  square,  and  filed 
through  the  principal  streets,  saluted  tslong 
its  line  of  march  with  a  constant  bl:s:,e  of 
fire  works  and  illuminations.  This  deaion- 
stration  was  equalled  if  not  surpassed  by 
the  democrats  on  the  '2Sth  of  September. 
Much  money  had  been  spent  by  thezi  in 
tasteful  arches  and  other  d-^coraiions,  and 
the  display  was  a  very  grand  one.  L'DUg- 
lass,  H.  \ .  Johnson,  and  other  leadeirs  of 
the  party  were  present,  and  delivered  ad- 
dresses at  the  fair  ground.  Tliere  wis  a 
grand  torch-liglit  procession  at  night,  ip'l 
the  fire  works  and  illuminations  equaled 
if  they  did  not  surpass  tite  display  bj  the 
republicans.  The  crowds  in  attendance 
at  tliesB  conventions  were  to  be  mea5ared 
only  by  the  acre,  and  sufficiently  demon- 
strated the   perfection  and  extent  of  our 


railway  system.  At  no  other  place  in  tlie 
country  could  such  immense  throngs  have 
been  concentrated  or  dispersed  so  readily 
as  at  this  point. 

The  first  rope-walking  exhibition  here 
was  given  in  September,  by  Theodore  Price, 
in  the  presence  of  an  immense  crowd,  the 
rope  being  stretched  from  the  roof  of  (he 
Palmer  house  to  that  of  the  Bates  house. 
Several  subsequent  exhibitions  have  oc- 
curred, the  most  notable  and  dangerous 
one  occurring  in  the  summer  of  lbO'>.  on  a 
rope  stretched  from  the  roof  of  Blackford's 
block  to  that  of  Yohn's  block. 

The  Escott  and  Miranda  Opera  Troupe 
sang  at  the  theatre  in  January.  A  musical 
convention  was  held  at  Masonic  Hall  in 
September.  Bayard  Taylor  and  Henry  J. 
Raymond  lectured  there  in  February.  Lola 
-Montez  lectured  there  for  several  nights, 
beginning  February  "23.  In  the  fall  and 
winter,  Bayard  Taylor,  Prof.  Voumaus.  J. 
B.  Gough,  Dr.  Robt!  J.  Breckinridge,  G.  W. 
Winship  and  others,  lectured  before  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  Saliio 
St.  Clair  appeared  at  the  Metropolitan  for 
a  few  nights  in  February. 

In  view  of  the  threatening  aspect  assu- 
med by  the  southern  States,  and  the  lack 
of  patriotism  displayed  by  them,  it  was 
deemed  proper  by  the  asssmbly  to  unfurl 
the  American  flag  froni  the  State  Ilousa 
dome,  and  the  ceremony  was  fixed  for  the 
■22d  of  January,  ISGl.  A  tiag  stafi"  and 
large  flag  were  prepared.  Extensive  ar- 
raugemenis  were  made,  the  military,  the 
firemen,  city  and  State  authorities,  and 
citizens  paraded.  The  preliminary  exer- 
cises were  concluded,  and  the  fiog  was 
started  up  in  presence  of  a  vast  and  ex- 
pectant crowd,  when  the  staff  broke,  and, 
with  the  flag,  tumbled  down  the  dome  to 
the  roof.  The  crowd  dispersed  silently, 
deeming  the  event  ominous  of  comisir 
trouble.  A  new  staff  however  was  aft'.  - 
ward  procured,  and  the  flag  successf  ..  ■; 
raised,  but  with  less  display  and  enthusi- 
asm. 

18  6  1-8.  The  First  Baptist  church,  on 
the  corner  of  Maryland  and  Meridian 
streets,  was  burned  during  a  great  snow 
storm,  on  the  night  of  January  27th,  loGl, 
presencing  a  sad  but  magnificent  spectacle 
as  the  flames  burst  from  the  roof,  and 
wrapped  round  the  spire,  which  soon  top- 
pled and  plunged  downward  through  the 
roof.  The  fire  was  supposed  to  have  caught 
from  a  defective  flue.  The  loss  was  a  se- 
rious blow  to  the  church.  The  first  build- 
ing occupied  by  the  congregation  was  a 
small  one-story  brick  structure,  on  the 
same  site,  built  in  1S29  or  1830,  and  hold- 
ing two  hundred  and  fifty  or  three  hundred 
I  persons.     The  small  bell    then   used   was 


(«) 


82 


HISTORY  OF 


placed  in  a  separate  frame  tower  at  one  |  line  at  least  may  be  presented  of  tlie  lead- 
eud  of  the  house.     This  building  was  torn  [  ing  events. 

away,  and  the  house  which  was  now  just]  The  news  of  the  attack  upon  Fort  Fiini- 
destroyed  was  built  there  in  1651  or  li>o'I.  '  ter  reached  the  city  Apiil  12th,  and  at 
Tiie  first  spire  was  built  in  the  telescopic  j  once  produced  the  profoundest  feeling. — 
form  usual  in  countr\'  towns,  the  upper  i  Business  was  suspended,  and  every  one 
portion  being  finished  inside  of  tlie  lower,  ;  eager  for  the  latest  intelligence.  During 
and  hoisted  by  tackle  to  its  proper  eleva-  ;  the  afternoon  a  handbill  was  posted  calling 
lion.  It  had  just  been  lioisied  to  its  place  I  a  meeting  at  the  court  house,  and  at  tlie 
duiing  a  hot  summer  afternoon,   and    the  i  appointed  hour  the  room  was  thronged. 


An  adjournment  was  voted  to  Masonic 
Hall,  and  the  excited  crowd,  now  nionien- 
tarily  augmenting,  rolled  down  Washing- 
ton street.  The  hall  was  at  once  filled,  as 
well    as   the  theatre   and   the  intervening 


workmen  were  still  on  it,  when  a  sudden 
thuuder  gust  came  up,  and  the  spire  being 
iusufiic'ently  stayed,  the  guy  ropes  parted 
and  it  turned  a  somersault,  coming  point 
down   on    the    pavement   in    front  of    the 

building,  narrowly  missing  a  team  and  i  street.  The  American  llag  was  produced 
wagon,  and  shattering  itself  into  splinters,  t  and  greeted  with  deafening  cheers.  Speech- 
The  men  at  work  on  it  had  barely  time  ;  es  were  made  at  the  several  meetings,  bit- 
enough  to  get  oft"  before  it  went  over.  An-  |  ter  resolutions  were  adopted,  and  volun- 
other  spire  was  afterward  built,  but  in  a  j  teering  at  once  begun.  The  throng  dis- 
ditferent  way.  I  persed  at  a  late  hour,  excited  and  enr.iged 

The  congregation,  after  the   destruction  !  over  the  news  that  the  Fort  had  been  sur- 


of  the  church,  sold  the  lot  (which  is  n^^w 
occupied  by  SchnuU's  block,)  and  purcha- 
sed the  lot  on  the  north-east  corner  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New   York  streets,  and 


rendered.  On  the  following  day  the  Greys, 
Guards,  Independent  Zouaves,  Zouave 
Guards,  and  a  light  artillery  company  be- 
gan  recruiting.       Flags  were  everywhere 


in  lSfJ2  erected  the  present  large  brick  ed- 1  displayed,  and  the  fife  and  drum  hoardat 

ifice  upon  it.  I  every  corner.  The  president  s  proclamation 

„      -J      i    r-       1  •      1   I,  -„  „„  ik^    for  seventy-five    thousand    men    appeared 

President    Lincoln    arrived  here  on  the  i  .       ,  .•'.  ,     .  •  n  *• 

,.-,  ,     r  n  I  ici^i  V-    „       .     .v.^  i  on    the    loth,  and  the   governors    call  tor 

12th  of  February,  Ifcbl,  on  his  way  to  the      .  .  '    ,,         ...  '',.     ,  ..     ,^,, 

,  •.   1  1  ■     "i        .1,      SIX  regiments  trom  this  btate,  on  the  Ibth. 

nation^il   capital,    and  was  received  as  the         rr.i     .^     .     r  •  i  i  .u 

,..,.'         1   c     .     I    •  ,     .         The  fctate  fair  ground  was  chosen  as  the 

guest  ot  the  city  and  biate,  being  met  at  |         ,  ^ 

:•     c.   .      1-  A  .    1   .1  -.1    „  v..  ^  i  rendesvous. 

me  State   line,   and   escorted  thither  by  a 

coniinitlee.     He  left  the  Lafayette  train  at 

"Washington  street,  and  was  escorted  to  the  ,  ^        ,    •     .,  v,-     .    n      <•  .'        •. 

,,   ,      ..'^        ,      .,  '      •,..  v„  fi.^  1  qns'rtered   in  the   public  halls  oi  tne  city. 

Bates  House  by  the  military  companies,  nre  I  "1,  .       „  u        i  i       \        i„ 

•'  J         t  1         .  (j^mpfinies  from   abroad   were  also  hourly 

arriving,  greeted  by  cheers  and  the  firing 


It  was  named  Camp  Morton, 
and  on  the  10th  and  ITth  the  city  compa- 
nies moved  there,  having  meanwhile  been 


department,  State  authorities,  and  a  vast 
crowd  of  citizens.  In  a  short  speech  from 
the  balcony  of  the  Bates  House,  he  out- 
lined his  future  policy  with  regard  to  the 
rebellion,  and  held  a  reception  during  the 
cvcLing,  leaving  for  the  east  next  morning. 
Several  meetings  of  conservative  repub- 
licans were  held  at  the  court  house  in  Feb- 


of  cannon,  and  were  sworn  in  at  the  State 
House  and  sent  to  camp.  In  a  few  days 
eight  or  ten  thousand  men  had  reported 
for  duty.  Had  sixty,  instead  of  six,  regi- 
ments been  demanded,  the  call  would  have 
been  almost  as  readily  filled.  Our  own 
companies   were   full  and  others  forming. 


luary  and  March,  to  urge  a  compromise  of  I  ^onje  guards  were  organized  for  each 
th.e  existing  political  ditferences,  and  the  i  ^^j-d.  Every  one  was  anxious  to  contrib- 
settlement  of  the  controversy  by  making!  ^te,  and  blankets,  food  and  clothing  were 
concessions  to  the  South.  The  sessions  i  (.QUpcted  by  the  wagon  load  for  the  men 
■were  stormy,  in  consequence  of  the  at-  !  y^j  suddenly  collected  with  no  provision 
tendance  of  the  more  radical  njen,  who  felt  |  f^j.  i^pij.  comfort.  The  ladies  formed  so- 
tjiat  the  time  for  all  compromise  had  pas- I  (.{gjigg  ^.^^  materially  assisted  in  this 
fied,  and  before  any  definite  action  or  j  ,(,-qj.j5._  r^j^g  enthusiasm  was  wonderful : 
course  was  decided  en  by  the  meetings,  i  jj^^  ^g^l^  f,^;tt,  and  courage,  sublime.  The 
the  acts  of  the  rebels  transferred  il"-e  dis- 1  ^^^ ^igj-j.^j  aud  men  were  superabundant, 
cussion  from  the  forum  to  the  field.  There  ;  j^jjj  ^^^  excess  made  the  labor  of  the  au- 
■was  then  no  further  talk  of  compromise,  I  ^horities  all  the  more  difficult.  Everything 
and  those  who  had  urged  it  became  earnest  i  j^j^jj  ^q  ^^  learned  by  a  people  unacquain- 
and  active  in  the  war.  j  j^^j  with  vfar,  and  for  some  time  contusion 

It  can  scarcely    be  expected   that  a  full  '  reigned    supreme.      Order,    however,    was 
histcry  of    the  part  taken  by  this  city  in  I  gradually  restored,  the  six  regiments  were 
the  war  can   be   given    in  the  limits  of  an  |  organized  and  brigaded,  and  the  work  of 
article  like  this.     It  could  only  be  properly  j  drilling  and  equipping  them  began, 
dealt  with  in  a  volume.      But  a  brief  out-        On   the  24lh  of   April  Stej'hen  A.  Doug- 


io  J 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


83 


lass  visited  the  city  and  made  a    speech. 
He    weut    to    Camp.  Morton,    visiting    the  I 
troops    and    arousing    great    enthusiasm  i 
among  thon).  i 

Some    feeling    arising    concerning    the 
support  of  the  familiee  of  soKliers  during  } 
their  absence,  the  City  Council,  on  the  20111  i 
of  April,  voted  an   appropriaiioa   of  $10,-  I 
000  for  their  m".iuten:ince. 

Seven  companies  Tvore  formed  here  under  j 
this   call,  the  most  of  them  being  in  the  ! 
eleventh  regiment  under  Col.  Lew  Wallace.  | 
They  ^ere  moved  in  a  few  days  to  the  old  ! 
Bellefontaine  depot,  uniformed  soon  after  i 
and  persistently   drilled.     Stands    of  col- 
ors were   presented   to  them    at  the  State  j 
House  -on  behalf  of  the  ladies,  and  feeling  j 
like  old  troops  ihej-  clamored  for  service.  | 
They  ^^eve  accordingly  sent  to  Evans ville, 
(ostensibly  to   guard    the   borJer,)  ou    the  i 
9th  of  .May.     The  excess  of  troops  report-  I 
ing  Jiere,  over  the  six  regiments  called  for  j 
by  the  Government,  were  organized  under  { 
State  authority  in  six  one   year  regiments  j 
for  the  State  service,  but  were  soon  after 
re-enlisted,    (except  one  regiment  of  one 
year  men,)  for  three  years  and  all  trans- 
ferred  to    tlie    Federal    service.     The    six 
regiments  of    trcops   under    the   first   call 
were  reviewed  by  General  G.  B.   .McClel- 
lan  in  the  fields  north-west  of  the  military 
grounds,    (then     occupied    by    the    State 
troops  nnJ    known  as  Camp  Sullivan,)  on 
the  24th  of  May.     Hq  shortly  after  ordered 
th.em  into  active  service  in  West  Virginia, 
where   they  participated  actively  and    ef- 
fectively in  the  campaign.     Tlie  eleventh 
regiment,  meanwhile.   wa3  left  at  Evans- 
vjUe,  but  growing  tired  of  tlieir  position, 
an    order  was   obtained  from  Wasliington 
transferring  them  to  Cumberland,  Mary- 
land.    They  afterward  joined  Patterson's 
army,  participating  in   the  movements  of 
that  force  prior  and  subsequent  to  the  bat- 
tle of  Bull  run.     The   three  months  regi- 
ments were  discharged,  returned  home,  but 
shortly  afterward  were  again  rendesvoused 
here  to  re-enter  the  three    years  service. 
Tb.eir  old  organizations  were  maintained, 
although  the  regiments  were  mostly  com- 
posed of  new  recruits.     The  State  troops, 
meanwhile,    had    been    transferred   to  the 
Federal  service  and  sent  to  the  Held,  and  the 
additional  regiments  afterward  called  for 
by   the   Government  were  gathering  here 
and     elsevrhere.      The     nineteenth     Reg- 
ular regiment,  added    with  others    to   the 
army  by  President  Lincoln,  rendesvoused 
here     and    was      gradually    growing    in 
strength.     It  remained  here  till  the  fall  of 
ISG'J,  when  its   head-quarters  were  trans- 
ferred to  Detroit. 

After   the  first  flurry  arising   from  the 
Budden  concentration  of  the  three  months 


volunteers  and  the  State  troops  at  this 
point  was  over,  and  they  had  gone  to  the 
field,  the  work  progressed  more  quietly 
and  methodically.  Tho  anxiety  to  enter 
to  the  service  was  greater  than  tlie  de- 
mand for  troops,  and  some  trouble  was  ex- 
perienced in  securing  permission  to  raise 
additional  regiments.  After  the  three 
months  troops  were  re-organized  as  three 
years  men,  however,  additional  regiments 
were  demanded,  and  recruits  for  the  hist 
organizations  were  constantly  called  for. 
They  were  very  readily  obtained  without 
local  bounties,  for  business  had  been  very 
dull  since  the  preceding  winter,  and  hun- 
dreds of  men  were  out  of  work.  This 
stagnation  in  general  business  continue  1 
here  until  the  winter  of  lst)2  and  spring 
of  lbC3,  when,  from  the  Government  de- 
mand for  various  articles,  and  the  scarcity 
of  workmen,  high  wages  began  to  be  de- 
manded, and  volunteering  decreased.  Uni- 
forms had  been  scarce  on  the  streets  after 
the  first  regiments  left.  They  afterward 
began  to  multiply,  and  from  the  capture 
of  Ft.  Donelson  till  after  the  close  of  the 
war  they  constantly  became  more  numer- 
ous, until  the  city  at  last  was  a  heavily 
garrisoned  post.  During  the  late  fall  and 
winter  of  lb  j1,  however,  the  skeleton  nine- 
teenth Regular  regiment  constituted  the 
main  force  here,  and  their  perfect  disci- 
pline and  fine  dress  parades,  with  the 
added  attraction  of  their  full  regimental 
band,  drew  crowds  of  admiring  spectators. 
The  twentieth  regiment  and  several  bat- 
teries were  rendesvoused  here  and  camped 
on  the  commons  north-west  of  Camp  Sulli- 
van. The  twenty-sixth  and  thirty-third 
and  other  regiments  subsequently  occupied 
Camp  Sullivan.  The  drafted  m.en  were 
also  placed  there  in  1SG2-3.  The  fifty- 
seventh  regiment  occupied  a  camp  or-  the 
canal  west  of  tho  Lafuyette  depot,  and  la- 
ter organizations,  recruits  and  dralted 
men  were  sent  to  Camp  Carrington.  In 
.\ugust  18G2  a  further  call  for  troops  was 
made.  Bragg  and  Kirby  Smith  were  ad- 
vancing on  Louisville.  Great  etlorts  were 
made  to  fill  the  quota,  and  good  bounties 
offered  for  recruits.  A  draft  was  ordered 
and  the  preparatory  enrollment  was  made, 
but  before  it  took  place  the  requisition 
was  filled.  The  seventieth  and  seventy- 
ninth  regiments  were  raised  at  that  time, 
raainlv  in  this  district,  and  hurried  to 
Louisville.  They  served  to  tho  cjose  of 
the  war,  participating  in  Sherman's  cam- 
paign against  Atlanta  and  the  _  march 
to  the  sea.  No  unusual  war  excitement 
disturbed  the  city  from  this  dale  until 
early  in  July  1803. 

It  was  then  announced    by  tlie   papers 
that  John   Morgan  had  crossed    the   Ohio 


84 


HISTORY  OF 


river,  and  later  iu  tlie  dav  news  came  that 
he  was  rapidly  moving  toward  this  city,  to 
release  the  prisoners.  The  fire  bells  were 
rung,  and  a  vast  crowd  collected  at  tlie 
Bates  ho;ise.  The  governor  aiinounccd  tlie 
news,  and  reconimeoded  the  immediate  ces- 
sation of  business,  and  the  formation  of 
military  companies.  It  was  resolved  to 
form  companies  in  each  ward,  and  recruit- 
ing at  once  began.  Dispatches  were  sent 
elsewhere  calling  for  aid.  The  next  morn- 
ing martial  law  was  declared,  business 
ceased,  the  ward  companies  were  sworn  in- 
to the  State  legion,  and  a  regiment  twelve 
hundred  strong  organized  under  Colonel 
Ilugg,  armed,  equipped  and  constantly 
drilled.  It  met  that  night  on  University 
square,  to  receive  blankets,  accoutrements 
and  ammunition,  and  was  ordered  to  navch 
next  day.  During  this  and  tlie  two  follow- 
ing days,  companies  and  regiments  were 
coming  by  rail  from  all  parts  of  the  Srate, 
and  a  considerable  army  v.-as  extemporized. 
The  excitement  and  enthusiasm  increased 
liourly,  surpassing  any  thing  seen  duiing 
the  war.  Other  regiments  were  organized 
and  sent  to  meet  the  enemy,  but  the  city 
regiment  was  persistently  marched  and 
drilled  on  University  square  and  else- 
where, attaining  very  creditable  proficiency 
iri  forty-eight  hours.  Signals  were  estab- 
lislied  by  the  fire  bells,  for  the  regiment  to 
start  on  the  campaign,  and  they  were  thus 
called  together  about  ivvice  a  day.  The 
v.arriors  parted  so  frequently  from  their 
wives  and  sweetliearts  that  they  grew 
tired  of  it,  and  finally  left  for  the  seat  of 
war  on  University  square  at  each  alarm, 
without  a  thought  of  those  they  left  be- 
hind. The  artillery  and  cavalry  wings  of 
tlie  regiment  meanwhile  were  executing 
various  manoeuvres  not  laid  down  in  any 
system  of  tactics,  sometimes  putting  the 
infantry  in  great  bodily  fear.  Morgan 
soon  turned  eastward,  but  the  regim:nt 
continued  its  martial  exercises  for  several 
days  afterward,  and  rapidly  attained  celer- 
ity and  precision  in  marching  and  in  the 
manual  of  arms.  The  organization  was 
continued  fir  two  or  three  months,  and 
in  September  an  effort  was  made  to  uni- 
form it  and  the  police  guards  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  city,  but  it  failed,  and  the 
force  disbanded  shortly  afterward.  Its 
services  in  the  Morgan  raid  were  after- 
ward paid  for  by  the  State.  The  sudden 
organization  of,  and  the  immediate  profi- 
ciency attained  by  this  regiment  conclu- 
sively proved  that  the  people  can  be  fully 
relied  ou  in  any  emergency. 

Recruiting  went  on  steadily  from  this 
date,  tlie  city's  quota  always  being  supplied 
with  reasonable  promj)tness,  but  late  in 
the  fall  anotlicr  draft  was  expected,  and 


the  citizens  held  a  meeting  on  the  11th  of 
December,  asking  the  council  to  appro- 
priate a  sufficient  sum  to  pay  >;iO  of  boun- 
ty to  each  recruit  who  might  be  credited  to 
the  township.  On  tlie  1-lth  of  December 
the  council  accordingly  appropriated  S"--^)- 
000  for  that  object,  ordering  the  sale  of 
bonds  to  that  amount  to  raise  the  money. 
The  bonds  were  prepared  and  sold  in  a  few 
days,  and  recruiting  went  on  with  more 
activity.  Committees  were  appointed,  and 
funds  raised  in  each  ward  to  add  to  tlie 
bounty,  and  the  required  number  of  men 
was  soon  obtained. 

During  the  winter  of  1SC3-'G4,  and  the 
following  summer,  the  old  veteran  regi- 
ments were  returning  on  thirty  day  fur- 
loughs for  recreation  and  recruiting,  before 
re-entering  the  service.  One  or  more  of 
them  arrived  every  week,  and  were  suita- 
bly received  by  the  State  and  city  authori- 
ties, the  council  having  appropriated  mon- 
ey for  that  purpose.  Many  recruits  were 
obtained  here  for  their  ranks,  and  the 
Seventeenth  Regiment  re-enlisted  and  were 
credited,  in  a  body,  to  this  city.  On  learn- 
ing that  our  quota  had  been  filled,  they 
confirmed  their  action  regardless  of  bounty, 
but  on  the  8th  of  March  Colonel  Wilder 
asked  the  council  to  grant  it  to  them.  A 
committee  reported  against  it,  but  the  coun- 
cil, after  further  consideration  of  the  sub- 
ject, passed  an  ordinance  on  tlie  I4th  of 
.March,  appropriating  :J5,355  in  bounties  to 
the  regiment.  An  attempt  was  afterward 
made  to  have  this  sum  increased,  but  with- 
out success. 

The  campaign  against  Atlanta  having 
begun,  and  the  governors  of  lilinois,  Indi- 
ana and  Ohio  having  tendered  a  heavy 
force  of  one  hundred  day  men  to  guard  the 
lines  of  communication,  a  call  was  issued 
for  troops  for  that,  term.  The  response  not 
being  very  prompt,  ward  meetings  were 
held,  asking  the  council  to  appropriate 
bounties  to  those  who  might  enlist  under 
the  call,  and  on  the  9th  of  May  $5,000  were 
appropriated  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
families  of  one  hundred  day  men,  the  sum 
to  be  disbursed  by  the  Soldier's  Aid  Com- 
mittee. Recruiting  was  actively  prose- 
cuted, and  the  city  regiment  was  shortly 
raised,  equipped  and  sent  to  Alabama  un- 
der Colonel  Vance,  Lt. -Colonel  Cramer  and 
Major  Bates.  It  was  assigned  to  duty 
along  the  line  of  communication,  and  after 
the  expiration  of  its  term  was  sent  home, 
discharged  and  paid  OiT. 

From  this  date  recruiting  became  more 
difiicult,  and  larger  bounties  were  required. 
The  demand  for  labor  had  increased  the 
rates  of  wages,  and  few  persons  were  out 
of  work.  Five  hundred  thousand  more 
men  were  called  for,  and  as  the   response 


"1 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1S18. 


85 


•was    not    satisfactory,   preparations    were 
made  for  a  draft.    The  enrollment  in  June, 
1864,  showed  seven  thousand  five  hundred 
and  seventy-three  men  suVject  to  draft  in 
the  city,  and    the  quota  was  fixed  at  one 
thousand  two  luindred  and  fifty-nine.     Ef- 
forts to  fill  it  by  recruiting  were  made,  and 
meetings  were  held  in  the  wards  and  in  the 
tabernacle  on  Court  square,  to  secure  sub- 
scriptions to   pay  bounties.     Forty  or  tifty 
thousand  dollars  were  subscribed  and  paid 
to  recruits,  but  the  requir^^d  number  was 
not  obtained   in    time,  and   the  draft  took 
place  September  25th,  for  about  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men.     Drafted  men's  meet- 
ings were  repeatedly  held  afterward,  and 
great  efforts  made  to  raise  money.     Sixty 
or  seventy   thousand    dollars    more  being 
subscribed  by  them,  the  council  on  the  2Sth 
of  September,  appropriated  S'.j2,000  to  as-  I 
sist  them,  and  on  the  3d  of  October  $40,000  \ 
more  were  appropriated.       The  c\ty  clerk  ; 
was  directed  to  collect  the  subscriptions  of, 
the    citizens.     Mayor    Caven    used    every  | 
means  to  assist  the  work  and  by  strenuous  | 
exertions  the   required   number  of  volun- 
teers were  secured  in  October  and  Xovem- 1 
ber,  and  the  drafted  men  relieved  at  a  cost  j 
of  nearly  8180,000.     Much  complaint  had  i 
been   made  prior   and   subsequent   to   the  I 
draft,  of  the  incorrect  enrollment  on  which  ! 
it  was  made,  and  that  the  city  and  town-  ' 
ship  were  drafted  together,  compelling  the  j 
city  to  expend  $20,0'. '0  beyond  its  propor-  j 
tion,  to  relieve  the  township.     The  council 
on  the  12 ih  of  December,  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  revise  and  correct  tlie  lists,  and 
secure  a  correct  enrollment. 

The  Prcfident,  on  the  20th  of  December, 
again  called  for  three    hundred    thousand  I 
men,  directing  a  draft  if  it  was  not  filled 
by  volunteers.     Mayor  Caven,  on  the  28th, 
recommended   the  Council   to    appropriate 
$00,000  for  bounties,  at  $150  each,  for  re- 
cruits.    TJie   Council,   after    consideration 
of  the  subject,  ordered  the  balance  of  the 
appropriation,  §2,500,  to  be  paid,  and  ap- 
propriated  $20,000    in    adilition    for    the 
same   purpose.     On    the    2i   of   January, 
18'j5,  the  .Mayor  again  urged  an  appropri- 
tion   to   pay   S150   bounty    for  volunteers, 
and  the  appointment  of  ward   committees 
to   sell  orders  and  raise   funds.     He  also 
urged    the    correction    of    the    enrollment 
lists,  and  that  the   city  be  drafted  sepa- 
rately by  wards.     The  (^ouneil  at  once  re-  | 
sponded,  by  appropriating  ?125,000,  to  be  I 
paid  in   $150   bounties   and  $10  premium 
f'.'r  recruits.     On  t!io  5th  of  Januiry  they 
authorized  the  bounties  to  be  increased  to  i 
v2m0,     and    sent    Hon.    John     Coburn    to' 
"ashicgton   to   secure  a   draft  by  wards,  j 
•le    succeeded    in    his    mission,    and    the 
Jraft  was   afterward    so  made.     Commit- 


tees were  also  appointed  for  each  ward,  to 
sell  city  orders,  or  warrants.  On  the  loth 
special  committees  were  appointed  to  sec 
if  the  bounties  could  be  increased  iu 
amount,  and  to  urge  the  Legislature  to  so 
amend  the  charter  that  loans  might  be 
made  directly  to  pay  bounties.  On  the 
17th  committees  were  appointed  to  super- 
intend recruiting  and  assign  the  men  rro 
rata  to  each  ward.  Tiie  time  fixed  for  the 
drafc  was  rapidly  approaching,  the  quota 
was  large  and  unfilled,  the  citizens  grew 
excited,  and  many  of  thorn  turned  their 
attention  to  recruiting.  In  February  the 
Council  appropriated  .$400  to  each  man 
who  might  be  drafted,  provided  he  had 
purchased  a  $50  order  before  the  draft. 
After  the  draft  occurred  they  confirmed 
the  grant,  ordering  the  money  to  be  paid 
at  once  to  those  who  furnished  substitutes, 
and  in  installments  to  those  who  were 
compelled  to  serve.  The  Council  liad 
furnished  twelve  hundred  cords  of  wood 
to  soldiers  families  in  August,  1864,  and 
now  gave  $3,500  more  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. On  the  20th  of  February,  tliree 
thousand  sis  hundred  citizens  p;etitioned 
the  Council  to  ctTect  a  loan  sut:icient  to 
pa)'  all  orders,  bounties,  .kc.  The  petition 
v."as  deferred  for  more  names,  and  on  the 
22d,  seven  hundred  and  seventy-two  more 
were  reported.  A  resolution  offered  by- 
Mayor  Caven  was  adopted,  authorizing  a 
loan  of  $400,000  in  bonds  of  $50,  $100, 
$500  and  $1,000  each,  signed  by  the 
Mayor  and  Clerk,  at  such  rate  of  interest 
semi-annually,  as  might  be  lawful  where 
the  bonds  were  payable.  A  special  tax 
levy  was  to  be  made  to  pay  interest  and 
form  a  sinking  fund  to  meet  the  princip  ^1. 
Messrs.  Brown,  Coburn  and  Jamison  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  and  ne- 
gotiate the  bonds.  They  did  so.  The 
bonds  were  sent  to  New  York,  where  they 
remained  unsold  for  several  months,  and 
were  then  recalled,  cancelled,  and  the 
committee  discharged. 

Tlie  quota  not  being  filled,  the  draft 
took  place,  by  wards,  on  the  25th  of  Feb- 
ruary, The  Council  at  once  ordered  the 
loan  committee  to  borrow  .$100,000  from 
the  banks,  at  one  percent.,  at  four  mouths, 
with  privilege  of  renewal,  depositing  or- 
ders at  sixty  cents  on  the  dollar  as  secu- 
rity, the  orders  to  be  sold  by  the  banks  on 
ten  days  notice,  if  the  debt  was  not  paid. 
On  the"  Gth  of  March  this  was  reconsid- 
ered, and_^the  Treasurer  ordered  to  borrow 
SlOO.OOO  "from  the  banks,  at  one  per  cent., 
for  four  months,  v.'ith  privilege  of  renewal, 
depositing  bonds  and  orders  at  seventy- 
five  cents  on  the  dollar,  as  security,  giving 
the  banks  the  privilege  of  selling  at  ten 
days    notice,    if   the    debt    was    not   paid. 


86 


HISTORY  OF 


The  loan  -was  taken  by  Fletcher's,  Har- 
risons', the  Citizens'  Natiouril,  First  Na- 
tional and  Indianapolis  National  Banks, 
$20,000  from  each,  and  tlie  money  thus  re- 
alized was  appropriated  at  once  to  bounties. 
The  drafted  men  were  now  very  active  in 
Eecuring  recruits.  0;uces  were  opened  in 
the  Council  chamber  and  elsewhere,  $400 
bouuiies  were  paid,  a  number  of  substi- 
tutes were  furnished,  and  tlie  quota  was 
nearly  tilled,  when  it  was  announced  that 
on  a  rcvisal  of  the  lists  of  credits,  the 
quota  was  entirely  filled,  and  with  several 
hundred  to  spare.  Counties  at  once  fell 
from  $400  to  $100,  bub  the  work  was 
stopped,  and  $l!5,000  to  $30,000  of  the 
fund  saved.  All  felt,  however,  thai  the 
lists  should  have  been  revised  before  the 
draft  was  made,  and  a  heavy  e:cpenditure 
tiius  avoided.  The  war  ended  four  weeks 
afterward,  and  no  further  recruits  were 
needed.  The  city  and  citizens  had  spent 
about  $700,000  in  the  past  ten  months, 
in  bounties  for  troops,  and  expenses  con- 
nected with  the  war. 

The  government  immediately  began  the 
reduction  of  the  army.  Sick  and  conva- 
lescent troops,  new  recruits,  drafted  men, 
Quarter-masters'  employees  and  others 
were  at  once  discharged.  The  rebel  pris- 
oners were  released  and  sent  home.  The 
veteran  regiments  rapidly  returned  and 
were  mustered  out.  The  veteran  reserve 
corps  dwindled  to  a  skeleton  organization, 
and  by  the  close  of  the  year  the  ninth 
regiment  of  Hancock's  corps  constituted 
almost  the  entire  force  stationed  in  tlie 
city.  Tlie  camps  were  abandoned  and 
the  property  sold.  The  liouses  were  re- 
moved elsewhere,  and  by  the  summer 
of  1860  a  uniform  was  rarely  seen  on  the 
streets.  The  return  of  the  veteran  troops 
kept  up  the  excitement  for  some  time,  and 
caused  great  activity  in  trade,  but  as  the 
great  floating  population  of  the  past  three 
years  dwindled  in  number,  and  the  gov- 
ernment demand  for  supplies  ceased,  the 
difference  in  the  throng  on  the  streets  was 
soon  perceptible,  and  the  town  grew  dull. 

Eslcnsivecaiaps,  liospitals,  barracks,  sta- 
bles tvnd  other  structures  were  built  by  the 
government  during  the  war;  the  most 
prominent  of  these  may  be  mentioned 
here. 

Camps  Morton  and  Sullivan  had  been 
occupied  by  llie  three-months  men  and 
State  troops  while  organizing  and  preparing 
for  the  iield,  and  Hie  last  named  camp  had 
afterward  been  suflicient  for  the  regiments 
subsequently  organized,  Camp  Morton  be- 
ing unused;  but  after  the  capture  of  Fort 
Donelson,  when  several  thousand  rebel 
pirisouers  were  sent  to  this  point,  addi- 
tional troop.s  and  camps  were  at  once  need- 


ed. Camp  Morton  was  then  fitted  up  as  a 
prison  camp.  It  was  surrounded  with  a 
high,  tight  fence  and  sentry  walk;  addi- 
tional buildings  were  added  from  time  to 
time,  and  the  defenses  strengtliened,  until 
at  last  it  was  as  complete  in  its  appoint- 
ments as  any  other  in  the  country.  More 
than  five  thousand  prisoners  were  occa- 
sionally confined  in  it,  and  many  thou- 
sands during  the  war.  Among  its  inmates 
were  the  greater  part  of  Morgan's  men, 
captured  after  their  celebrated  raid  through 
Indiana  and  Ohio.  Toward  the  close  of 
the  war  many  of  these  men,  becoming  con- 
vinced that  their  cause  was  lost,  enlisted 
in  the  Union  army  for  service  against  the 
Indians  ;.  others  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 
and  were  discliarged,  and  several  thousand 
were  released  and  sent  home  after  the  war 
j  ended. 

I      The  prisoners  were  guarded  at  first  by  the 
j  Nineteenth  regulars,  but  oth.er  troops  were 
I  afterward  detailed  to  that  duty,  and  some 
I  regiments  were  raised  for  that  special  ser- 
vice.    Temporary    camps    for    the    guards 
I  were  at  first  established  near  the  prison; 
j  but  after  the  invalid  corps  (afterward  the 
j  veteran  reserve,)    were  detailed   to  guard 
duty,  camps  of  a  more  permanent  clir.rac- 
ter  were  built,  requiring  many  thousunds 
of  feet  of  lumber.     Camp    Burnside,  just 
I  south    of  the    prison,    grew    into    a   large, 
I  populous,    well    arranged    and   well    built 
I  village  by   the  end  of  the  war.     The  vet- 
I  eran  corps  guarding  the    rebels   o:;cupied 
this  camp — many  of  the  otTicers  and  men 
i  having  their  families  with    them.     Camp 
]  Carrington,   formerly   a    temporary  airair, 
I  and    afterward  one    of    the   best    arran- 
I  ged  and  constructed  camps  near  tlie  city, 
[  was   mostly   built   in    1864.     It  was   at   a 
\  considerable  distance   to  the  west   of  the 
;  prison,  near  the  Lafayette  road.  i,iud   was 
I  mostly  occupied  by  recruits,  new  regiments 
an<(  drafted  men.     Camp  Sullivan,  on  the 
I  military  grounds,   was    not    so    extensive, 
;  well  built  or  arranged  as  the  two  former. 
It  had  been  occupied  by  the  State  troops, 
and  afterward  by  new  regiments,  transient 
j  troops  and  drafted  men. 
I      As   the   war  progressed   and  this  point 
;  became  more  important  as  a  depot  of  sup- 
j  plies,  troops  and  prisoners,  all  these  camps, 
i  with  others  in  and  around  the  city,  were 
I  constantly    occupied.      Among    other    im- 
portant establishments  the  Soldiers'  Home 
,  founded  in  1S6'2,  for  the  accommodation  of 
',  transient  soldiers,  soon  became  prominent, 
1  and  was  greatly  enlarged  before  the  war 
j  ended.     It  was  in  cliarge   of  the   veteran 
reserve  corps  at  first,   and    afterward    in 
I  that  of  the   Ninth    regiment  of  Hancock's 
I  corps.      Single    sohliers,    squads,    detach- 
I  ments,   and  regiments    of  troop?,   passing 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


87 


through  or  temporarily  stopping  in  tlie 
city,  were  accomuiodaled  vrith  lod2;ing  aud 
cooked  food  in  this  estahlishmeat,  and  it  j 
■ftfis  of  great  service  when  the  veteran  regi-  i 
Dients  were  returning  on  furlough  during  i 
•  he  war,  and  at  its  close,  when  they  return-  i 
cd  for  discharge. 

In  addition  to  camps  Carringlon,  Burn-  | 
side,  Sullivan  and  the  vSoldiera"  Home,   a  I 
cavalry    camp    was    established    near  the ' 
city;    and   when   the    negro  regiment  was ! 
authorized  late  in  the  fall  of  ISoS,  Camp  I 
Fremont   was    temporaril}'   established  in  ! 
Fletcher's    woods,   south-east  of    the  city.  | 
The    government,    in    1SG4,    took    the    old  j 
Bellefontaine  depot,  in  the  north   part  of 
the  ninth  ward,  and  fitted  it  up  as  an  ex- 
tensive  stable   to   accommodate    the  thou- 
sands   of    artillery,    cavalry    and    wagon 
horses,  bought  and  brought  to  this  jioint; 
and  for  the  storage,  also,  of  the  necessary 
grain  and  forage.  Barraclcs  were  also  added 
for   the  many  teamsters  and  quarter-mas- 
ters' employees  in  service  hei-e. 

It  was  proposed  early  in  1S65  to  aban- 
don all  the  government  camps,  prisons, 
stables  and  hospitals  then  in  use  in  and 
around  the  city,  and  construct  new,  more 
extensive  and  better  arranged  ones  several 
miles  out  in  the  country.  The  site  was 
selected,  the  plan  approved  by  the  aufhori- 
lies  at  Washington,  and  the  order  prepared, 
but  before  it  was  issued,  the  war  lermina- 
tel,  and  the  new  buildings  v.ere  not 
needed. 

\Vhen  the  war  tirst  began  and  the  three- 
months  troops  coUecied  here,  but  few  arms 
and  still  less  ammunition  could  be  sup- 
plied. It  was  evident  that  ammunition 
Viould  have  to  be  fabricated,  and  Herman 
Sturm  applied  to  the  Governor  for  au- 
thority to  manufacture  it  for  the  State. 
Permission  was  granted  in  May,  and  with 
one  or  tvro  assistants,  lie  immediately  be- 
gan making  musV:et  balls  and  cartridges 
at  .McLaughlin's  ganshop,  on  east  Wash- 
ington street.  Tiie  demand  soon  extended 
the  business,  and  a  small  frame  structure 
was  erected  in  Juiy  and  occupied  in  Au- 
gust, north  of  the  State-house.  -A.dditional 
buildings  were  soon  erected  and  the  num- 
ber of  workmen  increased;  but  the  facili- 
ties were  not  equal  to  the  rapidly  growing 
dem.and,  and  a  removal  took  place  to  Ott's 
building,  on  Washington  street,  south  of 
the  State-house.  It  remained  there  some 
time,  and  was  then  removed  to  buildings 
specially  designed  for  it  east  of  the  city. 
It  had  grown  from  a  small  beginning  to 
great  proportions  :  several  hundreds  of  per- 
sous  were  employed,  and  vast  amounts  of 
artillery  and  sn)all-arm  ammunition  were 
daily  fabricated — the  armies  of  the  we.st 
being    largely    supplied    by    it.     It   filled 


a  pressing  want  early  in  the  war:  but  the 
government  having  established  ati  arsenal 
liete,  and  ammunition  being  largelj*  nii.n- 
ufactured  elsewhere,  the  State  institution 
was  discontinued  in  1S54, 

The  national  government  in  ISOl  deter- 
mined to  found  a  number  of  arsenals  in 
the  west,  one  of  them  being  located  here. 
Eighty  acres  of  ground  were  bouglu  north- 
east of  and  adjoining  the  city,  plans  adopt- 
ed for  the  buildings  and  improvements,  and 
Captain  Jas.  .M.  Whittemore,  of  the  regular 
army,  appointed  commandant  and  superin- 
tendent. The  improvements,  consistiiicr  of 
buildings  for  the  storage  of  small  aniis  and 
accouterments,  artillery  and  wagons,  offi- 
cers' quarters,  magazines,  barracks,  fen- 
cing, grading,  kc,  were  begun  in  16'i'>2, 
and  have  been  prosecuted  to  the  present 
time,  and  are  now  nearly  completed,  at  a 
cost  of  several  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
The  buildings  are  large,  well  planned  and 
perfectly  constructed.  .All  the  improve- 
ments are  of  the  best  design,  materials, 
and  finish.  Large  amounts  of  arms  artil- 
lery, ammunition,  and  other  government 
property,  are  now  stored  there.  The  NVal- 
lace  building,  on  Delaware  and  Maryland 
streets,  was  used  during  the  war  as  the  U, 
S.  Arsenal  anrl  storehouse.  Wni.  Y.  Wiley 
was  appointed  military  store-keeper.  Capit. 
Whittemore  served  as  commander  an'i  su- 
perintendent tillthe  close  of  the  w.ir,  be- 
ing then  relieved  by  brevet  Col.  W.  II. 
Harris,  the  present  commander.  An  arse- 
nal guard  of  about  thirty  men  was  enlist- 
ed for  that  special  duty  in  1SG4,  and  is 
now  stationed  there. 

The  tinancial  condition  of  the  city  was 
greatly  influenced  by  the  war,  and  it  is  be.^t, 
perhaps,  to  consider  it  in  connection  with 
our  war  history;  though,  in  doing  so, 
many  facts  already  given  in  the  statement 
of  the  war  movements  will  necessarily  be 
repeated. 

It  is  now  impossible,  from  loss  of  re- 
cords, lo  give  a  certain  statement  conccru- 
ing  the  early  financial  condition  of  the 
corporation.  Tiie  old  books  yet  in  exist- 
ence are  in  such  shape  that  no  clear  idea 
can  be  drawn  from  them.  It  is  only  with- 
in a  few  years  that  a  system  has  been 
adopted  showing  tlie  condition  of  the  finan- 
ces at  any  given  time.  Sucli  facts  for  for- 
mer years  as  were  published  at  the  time 
are  given  below. 

The  valuation  of  real  and  personal  prop- 
erty in  1847  was  about  51,000,01)0.  In 
1S.50  it  had  risen  to.s2,32t5,185;  in  1^53.  to 
55.131,582;  in  ISoG.to  $7,140,070:  in  18.:S, 
to  :S10,47.5,000;  in  1860,  to  510,700,000:  in 
l-'VJ,  to  S10,2.j0.O00;  in  lbf;.3,  510,7.30,000; 
in  1804,513,250,000;  in  18o5.  520,144.447  ; 
in   1866,  524,231, 7oO;  in  lbo7,  it  sunk   to 


S3 


HISTORY   OF 


$21,943,005.  and  rose  in  1SC8  to  $23,503,- 
GIO.  Tlicse  figures  show  the  steady  growth 
of  tlie  place,  as  well  as  the  temporary 
checks  it  h;is  experieuced.  The  listed 
polls  in  1S47  were  r.boui  400;  in  1853, 
1,400;  in  1857,  1,SG2;  in  1800.  2,200;  in 
ISOo,  3,200;  in  ISGrj,  ,i,lii0;  in  ISGT,  5,300; 
in  ISoS,  5,780. 

Taxation  under  the  charter  of  1847,  for 
gencr  il  purposes,  was  limited  to  15  cents 
on  the  .SlOO;  but  special  taxes  to  any 
amount  could  be  levied,  if  autliorized  by 
the  general  vote.  Repeated]  elForts  were 
made,  from  1847  to  1853,  to  induce  the 
citizens  to  vote  special  taxes  for  varioug 
objects:  but  with  the  exception  of  taxes  for 
schools,  clock,  cisterns  and  to  pay  debts, 
the  movements  were  generally  defeated, 
and  tlie  entire  levyjdid  not  exceed  45  cents 
on  the  $100.  To  avoid  the  trouble  in  re- 
gard to  special  taxes,  the  council,  in  1853, 
adopted  the  general  incorporation  act  as  the 
city  clia.rter;  and  though  t(ie  taxing  power 
was  thereby  increased,  they  hesitated,  in 
view  of  tlie  general  o{)position  of  the  tax- 
payers, to  materially  advance  the  rate, 
and  it  did  not  usually  go  beyond  GO  or  SO 
cents  before  the  war.  After  the  war  be- 
gan, a  different  policy  was  necessarily 
adopted,  and  the  people  h:i,ve  since  become 
acquainted  \fh\i  heavier  rates  on  vastly- 
increased  valuations. 


The  receipts  and  •  expenditures  for  all 
purposes,  (other  than  schools,)  are  given 
as  published  at  the  time,  giving  generally 
the  actual  current  receipts  without  includ- 
ing balances.  Tlie  levy  for  1847,  (includ- 
ing $3G5  of  delinquencies  from  former 
years,)  amounted  to  $4.22o,  nearly  $4,000 
being  realized  therefrom,  and  the  expendi- 
tures considerably  exec'led  the  receipts. 
In  1850  the  receipts  were  $9,327,  expendi- 
tures $7,554.  In  1851,  receipts  $10,515, 
expenses  over  that  sum.  In  1853,  receipts 
$10.'jOG,  expenses  $7,030.  $2,908  being  de- 
voted to  cisterns  and  the  tire  department. 
In  1804  receipts  $20,500,  expenses  nearly 
the  same.  In  1S5G  receipts  $27,889,  ex- 
penses $4G,105.  In  1857  receipts  $32,G97, 
expenses  $31,003.  In  1859  receipts  $59,- 
IGS,  expenses  oO,  442;  $10,232,  being  spent 
on  the  fire  department  cisterns.  .$4,882  for 
police  and  $4,771  for  gas.  In  18G0  the  re- 
ceipts were$87,2G2,  expenses  $80,172;  lead- 
ingitems  being  for  street  improvements,  re- 
pairs and  bri'lges,  .$28,790;  fire  depart- 
ment and  cisterns,  $11,353;  police,  $5,980; 
gas  expenditures,  ,$0,445.  The  actual  cur- 
rent receipts  and  expenditures,  (not  includ- 
ing balances  from  former  years,)  and  the 
leading  items  of  expenditure,  as  nearly  as 
they  can  be  obtained  from  the  reports 
from  18G1  to  18GS,  are  given  as  follows  : 


ISOl. 
lSC-2 

1=CS 


o  s  a 
t  a. 

ills 


o  to 


$84,503 
79,132 
97,119 
123,011 
557,^31 
40'J,7i-i4 
440,253 
431, CC3 


5S4..503 
"79,132 
09,4.^7 
1,^0,444 
S54,391 
404,713  i  33,3^0 
331,525  j  52,186 
224,941  !    SG.OIS 


15,653 
2.744 

1S,S09 
33,322 
20,240 


lfi,249 
12,510 
12,eGS 
21,202 
21,G12 
20.332 
27.207 
33,049 


$6,300 
9,693 
10.687 
18.473 
27,990 
23,416 
37,511 
27,509 


lO.lSO 
10,CG2 
11,524 
12,040 
14,018 
9.G3S 
17,452 
27,528 


$7,618 
6,906 
10,9.-8 
12,505 
15,220 
3,051 
38,164 
37,100 


S2,S42 
5,509 
7,68G 

11,113 
8,116 
6,336 


$5,010 
35,155 
Tl>.179 
15 '.,197 
70,575 


The  old  corporation  authorities  hnd  in- 
curred a  debt  of  a  thousand  or  fifteen 
hundred  dollars  at  the  time  the  city  cliar- 
tci  was  adopted.  The  street  improTements 
then  undertaken  by  the  city  government 
soon  increased  it  to  nearly  $G,UO0,  and  in 
1849  a  tax  of  ten  cenis  on  the  $100  was 
authorized  by  vote  of  the  citizens  to  pay  it. 
The  proceeds  of  the  levy  almost  extin- 
guished it  in  1850,  but  iu  1851  it  again 
swelled  to  $5,400.  The  increased  receipts, 
however,  enabled  the  treasury  to  inect  cur- 
rent expenses  and  diminished  the  debt  to 
$5'j7  in  1854.  The  eruployment  in  that 
year  of  a  police  force,  together  with  the 
increased  current  expenses,    enlarged   the 


I  del't  to  .311.000  in  the  spring  of  1855,  and 

I  to  $15,300  in  the  spring  of  1856.     Orders 

i  were  selling  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the 

:  reputation  of  the  cit}'  suifered.     The  Coun- 

;  cil  determined  to  effect  a  loan  of  $25,000 

i  to  meet  expenses  and   fund  the  debt,  and 

J  having  prepared  the  bonds,  sent  Jeremiah 

;  D.  Skeen    to  New  York    City,  in    August 

'  1850,  as    their   agent    to    negotiate    them. 

;  He   succeeded  in  hypothecating  them   for 

.$5,000,  which   ho   applied   to  his  own  use, 

and   after  much  trouble  and  several  years 

delay,  they  were  recovered  by  the  city  on 

paytiient,  of  that  sum  wi'h  interest.     Skeen 

and  his  sureties  were  sued  by  the  city,  and 

judgment     finally    obtained     in     January 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


80 


18GS,  for  the  principal  and  interest  of  the 
defalcation.  This  unfortunate  effort  to 
sell  bonds  still  furtlier  injured  the  city 
credit,  and  the  debt  increased,  in  1S57,  to 
$23,741).  A  change  in  the  charter  and 
city  officers  took  place  th^it  year,  and  a  gen- 
eral tax  of  sixty  cents  was  levied  to  meet 
expenses  and  debts:  until  that  date  the 
entire  tax  had  not  exceeded  forty-five  or 
fifty  cents  on  the  f  100.  The  debt  was  re- 
duced to  50,300  in  1S59,  but  swelled  to 
$11,500  in  18G0,  and  to  nearly  8"2o,000 
■when  the  war  began.  A  considerable  pan 
\of  it  was  in  short-time  bijtids  issued  'o  the 
makers  of  the  three  steam  fire  engines 
purchased  in  ISOO,  the  bonds  being  the 
first  that  were  negotiated  and  sold.  The 
floating  debt  had  not  materially  increased, 
but  the  growing  expenditures  for  gas  light 
and  for  the  police  department  prevented 
any  reduction  in  its  amount.  The  salaries 
and  fees  of  the  city  ofScers  were  also  in- 
creased in  May  18fJl,  and  the  current  ex- 
penses then  enlarged. 

Immediately  after  volunteering  began 
for  the  three  months  service,  a  demand  was 
made  for  municipal  assistance  for  the  fam- 
ilies of  soldiers,  and  on  the  '20th  of  April, 
§10,000  were  appropriated  to  that  object, 
and  a  committee  apjiointed  to  supervise  its 
distribution.  From  this  time  till  the  close 
of  the  war,  many  appropriations  were 
made  for  tliispurpose,  iu  buying  wood  and 
supplying  money,  and  the  aggregate  sum 
thus  expended  was  very  large.  Doubts  ex- 
isted whether  bounties  could  be  directly 
given  by  the  city,  and  they  were  generality 
voted  as  appropriations  to  the  soldier's 
families.  The  various  war  expenditures 
early  in  18G1,  soon  rrtised  the  floating  and 
bonded  debt  to  about  Siij,000,  but  the  cur- 
rent receipts  enabled  the  authorities  to 
meet  expenses,  and  make  payments  on  out- 
standing liabilities,  until  they  were  re- 
duced in  May,  18;j2,  to  about  $lti,oOO.  Ke- 
cvuiting  becoming  slack  in  the  fall  of  1SG2, 
bounties  were  first  paid,  a  small  appropria- 
tion being  made  therefor,  aad  about,  5.3,000 
were  spent  in  that  way  by  May.  18G3. 
Over  85,000  of  the  engine  bonds  had  been 
paid  in  the  meantime,  and  the  debt  reduced 
in  May,  1863,  toSll,250.  Thi.s  amount  was 
practically  paid  oft'  soon  after,  and  a  close 
calculation  of  the  finances  of  the  city 
would  have  shown  her  free  of  debt  in  the 
summer  of  18G3. 

A  rapid  advance  in  the  values  of  articles, 
and  work,  began  in  the  spring  of  1803. 
The  ofTicer's  salaries,  and  the  policemen 
and  firemen's  wages  were  raised;  current 
cxjicnses  increased,  large  appropriations 
were  made  to  the  poor,  and  a  house  of  re- 
fuge undertaken.  To  this  increased  ex- 
penditure was  added  the  expense  connected 


with  the  city  regiment  in  the  Morgan  raid, 
and  on  the  11th  of  December,  in  response 
to  the  request  of  the  citi7en3,  the  council 
appropriated  .4;25,UO>0,  to  be  paid  in  850 
bounties  to  the  families  of  recruits  credited 
to  the  several  ward?.  The  ordimnce  was 
amended  and  re-passed  on  the  l-lth  of  De- 
cember, and  six  per  cent  city  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  825, OUO,  due  in  fifteen  months, 
were  prepared  and  sold  within  a  week,  and 
the  money  expended.  No  further  bounty 
appropriations  were  made  till  May  0th, 
1S64,  when  85,000  were  given  tc  families  of 
one  hundred  day  men:  the  money  to  be 
paid  out  by  the  Soldier's  Aid  t'omniittee. 
I'y  these  appropriations  and  the  largely  in- 
creased current  expenses  for  street  improve- 
ments, salaries,  police,  gas,  &c.,  amounting 
to  8116,000,  the  debt  had  risen  in  July,  to 
about  880,000,  the  war  expenses  amounting 
to  about  816.000.  _The  tax  levy  for  1SG4- 
-'G5,  was  fixed  at  81  for  general  purposes, 
50  cents  for  specific  objects,  and  25  cents 
for  soldier's  families. 

The  President  called  for  500,000  men  dur- 
ing the  summer,  ordering  a  draft  if  the  call 
was  not  filled  by  volunteers.  The  response 
was  not  as  prompt  as  had  been  expected, 
and  the  draft  took  place  in  September.  The 
mayor  in  August  had  recommended  appro- 
priations be  made  for  bounties  to  volun- 
teers to  fill  the  city  quota,  but  no  definite 
action  was  taken  at  the  time  in  regard  to 
it.  On  the  28th  of  September,  howevet^ 
the  council  appropriated  302,000  in  aid  of 
the  drafted  men;  the  sum  to  be  added  to 
that  subscribed  by  the  citizens  prior  to  the 
draft,  and  to  such  sums  as  the  drafted 
men  might  raise.  Twelve  hundred  cords 
of  wood  were  also  purchased  at  an  ex- 
pense of  88,000  for  the  soldiers  fami- 
lies. On  the  od  of  October,  810,000  were 
appropriated  in  addition  to  the  former 
sums  in  aid  of  the  drafted  men,  and  the 
city  clerk  was  directed  to  collect  the  citi- 
zens subscriptions.  During  October  and 
November,  four  hundred  volunteers  were 
secured  at  an  expense  to  the  city  and  citi- 
zens of  about  $170,000,  and  the  entire  cost 
of  relieving  the  city  from  the  September 
draft  amounted  to  about  8180,000. 

Another  call  for  300,000  men  was  made 
December  20th,  1804,  and  a  draft  ordered 
in  sixty  days,  if  the  call  was  unfilled.  The 
mayor  on  the  28th  recommended  an  appro- 
priation of  $90,000,  to  be  paid  in  SI 50 
bounties.  The  council  appropriated  8-0,- 
000,  together  with  an  unexpended  balance 
of  82,500  of  former  appropriations. 

The  Mayor,  on  the  2d  of  January,  1SG5, 
again  urged  appropriations  for8i'-'0  boun- 
ties, and  suggested  the  correction  of  the 
enrollment  lists,  and  the  draft  of  the  city 
by    wards.     The    Council    at    once    gave 


$125,000,  increased  the  bounty  to  $200, 
and  sent  John  Cuburn  to  Washington  to 
secure  a  ward  draft.  In  tlie  meantime 
the  competition  for  recruits  forced  boiin- 
!  ties  beyond  $:iOO,  and  the  Council,  on  the 
17th  of  Januarj',  increased  them  to  $4nO. 
The  Legisliiture  was  urged  to  amend  tlie 
incorporation  law  so  as  to  authorize  bounty 
loans.  Committees  were  appointed  to  sell 
war  warrants,  to  oversee  recruiting,  and 
assign  the  men  pro  rata  to  the  wards. 
Four  hundred  dollars  were  to  be  given 
each  man  who  bought  a  $50  order  and 
was  subsequently  drafted. 

On  the  2Uth  of  February  the  Council  re- 
ceived a  petition  from  three  thousand 
seven  hundred  tax-payers,  asking  a  loan 
to  pay  bounties  and  fund  all  orders,  which 
were  now  selling  at  twenty  to  thirty  cents 
discount.  It  was  laid  over  for  additional 
signatures,  and  seven  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-two more  being  reported  on  the  22d, 
the  Coiiucil  authorized  a  loan  of  $-100,000 
ou  twenty  yeai-  coupon  bonds,  signed  by 
the  Mpyor  and  Clerk,  with  interest  semi- 
annually, payable  in  New  York,  and 
pledged  a  tax  levy  to  pay  interest  and 
sink  the  principal.  The  bonds  were 
drawn,  signed,  sent  to  New  York,  where 
they  remained  unsold  for  several  months, 
and  were  f;nally  recalled  and  cnucelled. 
The  sale  of  war  warrants  and  the  work  of 
recruiting  actively  went  on  in  the  mean- 
time, but  the  drafc  took  place,  February 
25th,  for  nearly  five  hundred  men. 

The  Council  then  confirmed  the  gift 
of  $400  to  each  drafted  man  who  had 
bought  S50  in  war  warrants,  ordering  it 
paid  down  to  tliose  who  furnished  substi- 
tutes, and  ill  instalments  to  those  who 
served.  A  loan  of  $100,000  was  at  once 
ordered  from  the  banks,  and  on  the  0th  of 
March  the  Treasurer  was  directed  to  bor- 
row $100,000,  at  one  per  cent.,  for  four 
months,  renewable  if  necessary,  depiosit- 
ing  orders  and  bonds  at  seventy-live  cents 
as  security,  the  banks  having  the  right  to 
sell  them  at  ten  days  notice  if  the  loan 
was  not  met.  The  loan  was  at  once  taken 
by  the  First  National,  Citizens  National, 
Indianapolis  National,  and  Fletcher's  and 
Harrisons'  banks,  $20,000  each,  and  the 
money  applied  to  bounties.  A  committee 
was  appointed  on  the  Cth  of  March  to  ex- 
amine and  report  whether,  under  the  new 
law,  one-fourth  of  the  amount  of  the  war 
debt  and  bonds  could  be  added  as  special 
tax  upon  the  duplicate.  The  Mayor  on 
the  Gd  of  April,  submitted  au  opinion  by 
James  Morrison,  that  tlie  city  could  fund 
her  debt  by  bonds  under  the  existing  law. 
The  strictly  war  expenditures  (except  in- 
terest) of  the  city,  in  the  way  of  bounties, 
ended   witli    the   February  draft,  the  war 


j  ceasing  in  less  than  four  weeks  after  the  i 
i  quota  was  declared  to  be  tilled.  Nearly  ' 
j  $155,000  in  war  warrants  were  sold  and  | 
I  iu  the  hands  of  the  people.  The  entire  | 
war  expenses  for  the  year,  from  May,  18G4,  j 
to  May,  lSo5,  had  reached  $718,17'J.  , 

I  The  city  war  expenditure  for  the  last  i 
three  years  of  the  rebellion  approximated  | 
$1,000,000,  and  the  municipal  debt  reached  I 
$368,000  "it  its  close;  $100,000  of  this  ! 
sum  was  in  the  shape  of  a  bank  loan,  at  I 
12  per  cent.,  secured  by  deposit  of  war-  I 
rants  at  seventy-live  cents;  the  remainder 
consisted  of  six  per  cent,  warrants,  part  of 
which  were  applicable  on  the  payment  of  | 
taxes  for  ISuo,  the  rest  in  lSG'J-7.  These 
orders  were  selling  at  twenty  and  thirty 
cents  discount,  aad  as  the  discount  was 
added  in  all  bills  against  the  city,  the  de- 
preciation was  largely  augmenting  cur- 
rent expenses.  The  Council,  tiierefore, 
levied  a  tax  of  $1  for  general  purposes, 
and  fifty  cents  to  pay  the  debt.  The  bank 
loan  was  renewed  as  it  fell  due,  and  in 
October  au  ordinance  passed  to  renew  it 
for  a  year.  The  unsold  war  bonds  iu 
New  York  were  recalled  and  cancelled. 
The  finance  committee  recommended  the 
election  of  a  city  Auditor,  and  John  G. 
Waters  was  accordingly  chosen  by  the 
Council,  in  Januar3',  IfcioO,  for  two  years  ; 
the  oiTice  was  discontinued  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term.  On  the  11th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1SG5,  the  Council  authorized  the  fund- 
ing of  war  orders  in  six  per  cent,  three 
year  bonds,  and  about  $27,000  were  so 
converted  by  May,  1S60.  The  current  re- 
demption of  orders  in  the  mean  time  in 
taxes  was  large,  amounting  to  $307, OuO  at 
the  close  of  the  fiscal  year,  and  the  debt 
had  decreased  from  $308,000  to  about 
$217,000,  $151,000  being  paid  ofl'.  In 
.May,  ISOG,  a  tax  of  $1.50  was  levied  for 
general  purposes,  and  twenty-five  cents 
for  payment  of  debt,  but  in  >;ovember,  at 
the  Mayor's  suggestion,  the  outstanding 
six  per  cent,  orders  were  funded  to  the 
extent  of  $82,000,  in  ten  per  cent,  war- 
rants running  eighteen  months,  and  the 
twenty-five  cent  tax  was  struck  from 
the  duplicate,  material!}'  Icsiening  the 
burthen  for  that  year.  The  actual  cur- 
rent receipts  (excluding  former  balance) 
for  lSGG-7,  were  $327,700.  The  expendi- 
tures (excluding  bank  Ipau,)  $2u0,700. 
The  total  debt  on  three  year  bonds,  ten 
per  cent,  warrants,  and  to  the  banks, 
amounted  to  $200,G00,  and  $122,929  of -a 
balance  was  left  in  the  treasury.  The 
debt  had  been  reduced  $108,787  during 
the  year.  The  Council,  iu  May,  1BG7, 
voted  a  general  tax  I'or  the  year,  of  $1.25, 
and  the  actual  current  receipts  on  ii 
during    the    fiscal   year,  18G7-8,  (not    in- 


IXDIAiNAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


01 


cUidins:  the  balance  from  1807)  were 
52:31.069,  the  actual  expenses,  SC'Jo.OOO. 
Tlie  bank  bond  and  warrant  debt,  in  May, 
ISHS,  Tvaa  estimated  at  S2-j'_',000,  and  the 
balance  left  in  the  trcasurj  amounted  to 
f'JlO/joT.  The  bond  and  warrant  debt 
has  since  been  paid  at  its  maturity,  and 
the  debt  now  amounts  to  about  $2tJ0,000. 
The  levy  for  the  current  year  was  fixed  at 
$1.10  for  general  purposes,  and  fifteen 
cents  for  sewerage. 

The  war  brought  many  rowdies  here, 
and  in  the  summer  of  1S61  scarcely  a  day 
passed  without  affrays  in  which  weapons 
were  used.  The  police  were  kept  busy  in 
pi-eserving  order.  Affairs  grew  still  worse 
in  the  fall  of  1803,  and  military  aid  was 
invoked.  A  strong  guar^i  was  detailed, 
with  its  headquarters  at  the  Police  office, 
and  until  after  the  war  the  soldiery  as- 
sisted in  keeping  the  peace.  The  conve- 
nient position  of  the  place,  midway  be- 
tween the  large  western  cities,  made  it  a 
favorite  rendezvous  for  rascals  of  all 
grades,  and  when  large  bounties  were  of- 
fered in  18G4,  hundreds  of  thieves  and 
bounty-jumpers  flocked  here.  They  were 
soon  arrested  or  scattered  by  the  authori- 
ties, and  three  of  them  being  tried  by 
court  martial,  and  shot,  near  Camp  Mor- 
ton, as  deserters,  the  rest  hurriedly  left 
the  place. 

For  some  time  after  the  war  began  little 
or  no  political  exciteineut  existed,  but  at 
the  democratic  county  convcntiou  in 
Court  Square,  on  the  2d  of  September,  sev- 
eral of  the  speakers  indulged  in  indiscreet 
expressions;  equally  indiscreet  retorts 
were  made  by  parties  in  the  crowd;  a  per- 
sonal difficulty  occurred,  weapons  were 
drawn,  and  the  convention  was  dispersed 
by  soldiers  and  others.  The  leaders  were 
pursued  to  their  homes  and  compelled  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  For  some- 
time a  sei'ious  outbreak  was  threatened, 
and  the  Sentinel  office  was  in  danger. 
Order  was  finally  restored  by  the  military 
and  police.  The  affair  was  discreditable 
to  the  city  and  to  all  engaged  in  it. 

On  the  8th  of  April  IBOL'.  Parson  Brown- 
low,  of  Tennessee,  having  just  been  sent 
north  by  the  rebels,  reached  this  city,  and 
in  company  with  General  Carey,  of  Cin- 
cinnati, appeared  before  our  people  at  the 
Metropolitan  Theater,  where  both  made 
bitter  speeohes.  Brownlow  visite'l  ilie 
city  again  just  after  tlie  Piiiladeljihia  con- 
vention, and  made  one  of  his  characteris- 
tic I'peeches  to  a  large  audience  in  the 
Circle. 

In  1803  the  democrats  held  a  St-^te  mass 
convention  in  the  State  House  yard,  mus- 
tering in  lieavy  force  and  generally  armed. 
Anticipating  an  outbreak  the  authorities 


had  taken  measures  to  prevent  it.  Guarda 
were  stationed  on  the  streets,  artillery 
was  held  in  readiness,  and  the  seventy- 
first  regiment  put  under  arms.  No  trouble 
occurred,  farther  than  the  arrest  and  fining 
of  many  persons  for  carrying  concealed 
weapons.  As  the  delegates  were  leaving, 
however,  they  began  random  firing  from 
the  cars.  The  Lafayette  train  got  off,  but 
those  on  the  Central,  Cincinnati  and  other 
roads  were  at  once  pursued  by  the  military, 
the  police  and  citizens.  Tiic  trains  were 
brought  back,  the  passengers  put  under 
arrest  and  disarmed.  They  were  permit- 
ted to  leave  after  a  detention  of  some, 
hours  and  the  confiscation  of  their  revol- 
vers, a  large  number  of  which  were  turned 
over  to  the  military. 

In  August  1SG4,  it  was  discovered  that 
large  quantities  of  arms  and  ammunition 
were  being  secretly  imported  into  the 
State,  and  a  seizure  of  four  hundred  navy 
revolvers  and  many  boxes  of  fixed  ammu- 
nition was  made  in  II.  II.  Dodd's  office  in 
the  old  Sentinel  building.  Papers  also 
were  found  disclosing  the  existence  of  & 
secret  military  organization  opposed  to  the 
Government,  and  implicating  prominent 
parties  in  the  movement.  Arrests  of  a 
number  of  them  followed  shortly  afterward, 
and  a  military  commission  was  convened 
here  for  their  trial.  Afrer  full  investiga- 
tion they  were  found  guilty  of  treason  and 
sentenced  to  be  hung.  The'  finding  was 
approved  and  the  day  fixed  for  execution, 
but  President  Lincoln  reprieved  them. 
President  Johnson  aftervvarJ  ordered  their 
execution,  but  subsequently  commuted  the 
punishment  to  imprisonment  in  the  Ohio 
Penitentiary,  from  which  they  were  after- 
tcrward  discharged  under  a  decision  of  the 
Supreme  Cotirt.  During  the  pendency  of 
the  trial  11.  H.  Dodd,  one  of  the  leaders  in 
the  scheme,  made  his  escape  from  the  third 
story  of  the  po3t-offi:o  building  and  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  Canada. 

The  political  canvass  of  1801  was  earn- 
estly and  enthusiastically  conducted  by 
the  republicans,  and  the  vote  for  Mr.  Lin- 
coln— about  twelve  thousand — was  the 
heaviest  ever  cast  in  this  township,  prob- 
ably over  ten  thousand  five  hundred  vo- 
ters being  residents  of  the  city  and  sub- 
urbs. The  meetings  were  held  in  the  tab- 
ernacle, a  large  frame  structure  erected  on 
the  AYashington  street  front  of  Court 
Square,  and  capable  of  accommodating 
several  thousand  persons.  This  building 
remained  there  for  a  year  or  more,  and 
was  frequently  used  for  meetings,  concerts, 
lectures,  etc.  A  similar  tabernacle  had 
been  built  for  the  campaign  of  1800,  in 
the  south-west  corner  of  the  square,  and 
used  in  the  canvass  of  that  year.     It,  also, 


92 


HISTORY   OF 


remained  standing  about  a  year  before  its 
removal.  Both  buildinas  Tvere  used  after 
the  elections  for  shows  and  concerts. 

The  threatened  tioliticil  troubles  had  se- 
rioui-'ly  contracted  business  enterprizes 
here  for  several  months  before  the  war  be- 
gan,and  except  the  temporary  activity  im- 
parted at  intervals  by  the  arrival  and 
equipmetit  of  the  different  regiments,  no 
general  improvement  took  place  until  bite 
in  the  vrinter  of  18G2-3.  Until  that  time 
many  men  were  out  of  work,  and  from 
tliat  cause  volunteering  was  steady  a,nd  re- 
cruits efisily  obtained.  After  the  city  was 
ntade  a  prison  depot  and  garrisoned  post, 
the  government  demand  for  articles  and 
labor  steadily  increased,  and  as  ope- 
rations in  the  south  grew  in  magnitude, 
the  advantageous  position  of  the  city  as  a 
supply  depot  became  more  evident.  This 
fact  attracted  general  attention  and  caused 
a  rapid  emigration  hither,  not  only  from 
all  parts  of  the  north,  but  thousands  of 
southern  refugees  also  made  this  their 
temporary  home.  The  current  constantly 
augmented  during  1Sl>3-4.  Houses  could 
not  be  provided  fast  enough  for  the  in- 
creasing throng,  and  cellars,  garrets,  and 
stables  were  crowded.  Several  families 
often  shared  the  same  tenement,  and 
many  persons  v.'ho  came  here  to  settle  were 
compelled  to  leave,  for  want  of  shelter  for 
their  families.  Rents  increased  enormous- 
ly for  business  houses  and  dwellings,  pri- 
ces being  limiLod  only  by  tlie  landlord's 
conscience,  or  the  bonus  a  former  tenant 
would  accept  for  his  lease.  House  hunting 
became  a  serious  business,  and  anj'  tene- 
ment was  gladly  accepted.  Many  shanties 
paid  fifty  per  cent,  per  annum  on  their 
prime  cost,  and  the  same  remark  could  be 
truthfully  made  of  some  business  rooms. 
"Work  was  found  however  for  all  comers. — 
Business  in  all  lines  was  brisk.  Every 
one  had  money,  and  fortunes  were  made 
in  two  or  three  years,  apparently  without 
effort  or  skill.  The  influx  of  parties  from 
abroad  continued  till  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  counting  all  persons,  permanent  resi- 
dents, soldiers,  prisoners,  and  the  miscel- 
laneous floating  population  in  and  around 
the  city,  it  would  be  safe,  perhaps,  to  es- 
timate the  population  in  March,  1865,  at 
eighty  thousand. 

Building  though  vigorousl}''  prosecuted 
during  IS-JS-l  and  5,  was  greatly  limited 
by  the  scarcity  and  high  price  of  materi- 
als, and  the  good  wages  asked  and  receiv- 
ed by  workmen.  Little  material  was  on 
hand  when  the  war  began,  and  the  demand 
being  very  limited  for  the  first  two  years, 
only  a  small  amount  of  it  was  collected, 
and  it  was  not  till  the  early  spring  of 
1SG3  that  the  manufacture  and  importation 


of  lumber  and  other  materials  began  on  a 
large  scale.  Prices  then  rapidly  advanced, 
doubling  within  the  year.  Tlie  demand 
grew  faster  than  the  price.  Heavy  ira- 
portations  of  pine  lumber  from  thelakcs 
to  this  point,  were  first  made  in  l^'^'S,  and 
for  nearly  a  year  tlie  stock  was  compara- 
tively unsaleable,  frotn  the  high  price  ask- 
ed, and  the  ignorance  of  our  people  with 
regard  to  the  lumber.  It  had  never  been 
used  here  to  any  extent  before  that  year, 
except  in  doors  and  sash  brought  from 
Dayton.  Brick,  stone  and  lime,  also  quick- 
ly rose  in  price,  and  with  the  rapid  in- 
crease in  wages,  contractors  lost  money  on 
the  houses  they  erected  Many  persons  de- 
sirous of  building  were  prevented  from 
doing  so  by  the  fear  that  the  improvement 
when  finished  would  not  be  worth  half 
what  it  cost;  at  least  that  was  the  excuse 
given  by  capitalists  when  urged  to  aid 
in  the  improvement  of  the  city,  and  by 
building  houses,  aft'ord  homes,  work,  and 
business  positions  to  tliose  who  were  anx- 
ious to  cotne  here. 

The  settled  limits  of  the  city  were  large- 
ly extended  in  IS'12-G,  but  the  greatest  im- 
provement was  effected  in  filling  upi  vacant 
lots  with  houses,  and  crowding  population 
more  closely  on  the  original  plat.  A  rapid 
change  also  occurred  in  business  localities. 
Washington  street  had  thus  far  been  the 
choice  location  for  the  heavier  houses,  the 
small  retail  groceries  being  thinly  scatter- 
ed elsewhere  over  the  city,  but  with  the 
rapid  increase  and  concentration  of  popu- 
lation, came  the  concentration  of  this  re- 
tail trade  at  subordinate  centers,  a  half- 
mile  from  the  street.  Meat  store,  tin  and 
shoe  shops,  drug  stores,  and  doctors  ofhces, 
collected  in  such  centers,  and  the  retail 
trade  was  so  far  diverted  from  Washington 
street  that  most  of  the  grocery  men  left  it. 
The  wholesale  trade  also  generally  went 
to  Meridian  street,  leaving  Washington  to 
the  dry  goods,  boot  and  shoe  and  clothing 
houses,  nearly  a  score  of  the  latter  being 
located  alon^  two  or  three  squares. 

The  sudden  and  unexpected  terniination 
of  the  war  closed  many  lines  of  business 
connected  with  it,  and  thousands  were  at 
once  deprived  of  their  usual  employment. 
To  these  were  soon  added  the  discharged 
soldiers.  Many  of  those  thus  left  adrift 
were  anxious  to  remain  here,  and  would 
have  done  so  had  any  chance  been  opened 
to  them,  but  the  general  distrust  regarding 
the  future  caused  a  rapid  contraction  in 
business,  and  the  great  mass  were  com- 
pelled to  go  elsewhere  in  search  of  em- 
ployment. In  a  few  months  the  unaccus- 
tomed sight  of  vacant  dwellings  greeted 
the  eye,  and  shortly  alter,  store  rooms  were 
to  let.     Rents  grew  less  firm,  then  shaky, 


■^  'i 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


.71 


93 


then  had  a  downward  tendency,  and  finally 
reached  a  living  point;  averaging  nt  pres- 
ent about  half  the  war  rates. 

All  parties  were  inexpressibly  shocked 
by  the  assassination  of  rresident  Lincoln, 
the  news  being  first  made  known  at 
market  on  the  morning  of  the  loth  of 
April,  and  immediately  afterward  by  the 
tolling  of  the  central  ahirm  bell,  calling 
out  tJie  fire  department  and  citizens. 
Business,  which  had  begun  for  the  day,  at 
once  ceased;  niauufactorics  closed,  stores 
were  shut,  and  without  any  concerted  ac- 
tion, tlie  people  began  draping  their 
houses.  Men  with  grief  stricken  faces 
gathered  on  the  street,  discussing  the 
event.  A  notice  calling  a  nieeting  at  the 
State  House  was  at  once  posted,  and  by 
nine  o'clock  thousands  were  assembled 
thero.  The  troops  stationed  here  were 
paraded,  and  marched  with  muffled  drums 
and  draped  colors  to  the  spot.  The  assas- 
sination and  death  of  the  President  were 
officially  made  known,  by  the  Governor,  to 
the  excited  throng.  Speeches  wore  made 
in  eulogy  of  the  dead  President  by  lead- 
ers of  both  parties,  and  resolutions 
adopted,  pledging  the  support  of  the  peo- 
ple to  the  government  and  incoming  ad- 
ministration. The  effect  of  the  shock  was 
so  great  that  business  did  not  recover  its 
former  tone  and  volume  for  several  days 
afterwuril. 

Toward  the  Kiiddle  of  April  it  was  an- 
nounced that  the  Prejidenl's  body  would 
be  brouglit  through  this  city  on  its  way  to 
Springlield.  Meetings  were  held,  and  ar- 
rangements made  to  give  a  suitable  ex- 
pression of  the  respect  entertained  by  the 
people  for  his  memory.  Tiie  city  Council 
endorsed  the  movemcni  on  the  17th  of 
April,  invited  the  autlioriiies  of  Cincin- 
n-\i\  and  Louisville,  and  voted  to  defray 
the  expenses.  Many  arches,  beautifully 
decorated  and  drape  !,  were  thrown  across 
the  streets  on  the  line  of  the  contemplated 
precession.  Festoons  of  black,  bound 
with  wreaths  of  evergreens  and  immor- 
telles, were  stretched  at  regular  intervals 
across  the  streets,  and  from  house  to 
Louse.  Many  thousand  yards  of  black 
and  white  fabrics,  and  car  loads  of  ever- 
greens, were  thus  used  on  the  streets,  and 
on  tlie  State  House  and  otlier  public  build- 
ings. All  business  houses  and  nearly  all 
the  dwellings  in  tlio  city  were  more  or 
less  draped  and  ornamented,  many  of  the 
decorations  being  very  beautiful.  Pic- 
tures and  busts  of  the  dead  President, 
furled  and  draped  tlag^,  wreaths  of  ever- 
greens, mottoes  and  shields,  were  dis- 
playc'l  everywhere,  until  the  appearance 
of  ilic  city  was  startlingly  transformed, 
The   Siate  House,   under    the   rotunda   of 


which  the  remains  were  to  lie  in  state, 
was  profusely  and  tastefully  decorated, 
being  wreathed  with  black  and  white, 
trimmed  with  evergreens  and  flowers,  in- 
side and  out.  The  haii  was  lined  with 
black,  relieved  by  stars,  tlower  wreaths, 
pictures,  busts  and  flags.  The  gate  en- 
trance was  occupied  bj-  a  beautiful  quad- 
ruple arch,  profusely  draped  and  covered 
with  mottoes.  The  fence  all  round  the 
square  was  covered  with  festoons  of  ever- 
greens and  tlowers.  It  was  said  by  par- 
ties accompanying  the  cortege,  that  the 
decorations  here  were  more  extensive  and 
beautiful  than  those  at  any  other  place  on 
the  route. 

The  arrangements  were  completed  late 
at  night  on  the  20th  of  April,  and  the  fu- 
neral cortege  arrived  by  special  train 
early  on  tlie  30th.  A  great  civic  and  mil- 
itary funeral  procession  had  been  ar- 
ranged, and  extensive  preparations  made 
for  the  visitors  from  other  parts  of  the 
State,  who  were  to  come  by  special  trains. 
These  arrangements  were  defeated,  and 
the  crowd  greatly  lessened,  by  a  cold, 
heavy  rain,  beginning  on  the  night  of  tlie 
■20th  and  lasting  all  the  ner.t  day.  The 
President's  remains,  removed  from  the 
train  early  in  tlie  morning,  and  placed  on 
a  large  funeral  car  built  for  the  purpose, 
were  taken  under  military  escort  to  the 
State  House,  where,  during  this  and  a 
part  of  the  next  day,  they  were  visited  hy 
mauy  thousand  persons,  who,  regardless  of 
tlie  driving  storm,  patiently  waited  their 
turn  for  hours,  in  long  lines  before  the 
building. 

The  decorations,  though  badly  injured 
by  the  rain,  were  allowed  to  remain  stand- 
ing for  nearly  a  mouth,  when  they  were 
removed,  and  the  materials  sold  by  order 
cf  the  Council. 

The  war  having  closed  the  people  de- 
sired the  great  commanders  who  had  be- 
come prominent  in  it  to  visit  tlie  place,  and 
in  response  to  their  invitations  Generals 
Sherman  and  Grant  visited  the  city  in 
I'SijD.  General  Sherman  arrived  on  the 
2jth  of  July,  and  was  conducted  througli 
the  jjrincipal  streets  by  a  great  civic  and 
military  procession  to  the  State  House 
yard,  where  he  made  an  able  speech  to  the 
people  counselling  peace,  and  earnest  ef- 
forts to  repair  the  damages  caused  by  tlic 
war.  lie  held  a  reception  and  attended  a 
banquet  at  Military  Hall  given  by  the 
former  officers  and  soldiers  of  his  com- 
mand. General  Grant  arrived  in  Septem- 
ber, and  was  received  by  the  State  nnJ 
city  authorities  and  military  forces  with 
the  honors  accorded  to  the  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  the  American  army.  A  great 
military  and    civic  procession    conducted 


04 


HISTORY   OF 


Lim  to  the  State  House  yard,  -where  he  was 
■welcomed  in  fitting  terms  by  the  Governor, 
and  bowed  his  acknowledgments  with  a 
few  well  chosen  ■v\-ord3  to  the  public.  He 
held  a  reception  in  the  evening  and  atten- 
ded the  banijuet  at  the  Bates  House  at 
night. 

Amusements  were  numerous  and  con- 
stant iu  the  period  intervening  from  1861 
to  ISCO.  Nearly  all  the  loading  actors  of 
the  country  appeared  at  the  theater,  which 
■wa?  op'cu  the  greater  part  of  each  year, 
and  constanlly  crowdet.'  by  soldiers  and 
strangers  sojourning  in  the  city.  From 
lSG-1  to  ISOtJ  a  museum  -was  kept  bj'  Mad- 
ame English  in  the  Kinder  building  on 
east  Washington  street,  and  largely  pat- 
ronised by  the  rural  population  ;iud  sol- 
diers. Shows  and  circuses  appeared  regu- 
larly each  summer  to  reap  a  full  harvest, 
and  negro  minstrel  bands  and  panoramas 
drew  crowded  houses.  Sleight  of  hand  and 
ledgerdemaiu  were  illustrated  at  .Masonic 
Hall,  by  Herman  and  Heller,  the  great 
masters  in  the  art,  exciting  the  wonder  and 
adding  to  the  enjoyment  of  their  audi- 
ence.'. Concerts,  operas  and  lectures  had 
their  full  share  of  votaries,  and  fairs  were 
revived  for  church  and  charitable  pur- 
poses. A  great  fair  was  held  in  Septem- 
ber, lS'j-1,  on  the  military  grounds  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  lasting 
one  week,  and  realizing  a  large  sum  of 
money.  Since  the  war  ended  amusements 
have  been  fewer  and  less  well  patronized, 
the  hard  times  telling  seriously  upon  them. 

The  leading  event  in  the  musical  line 
since  the  war  was  the  annual  German 
S&jngerfest,  held  about  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, ]8G7,  lasting  three  or  four  days. 
The  programme  included  processions,  ad- 
dresses, vocal  and  instrumeutal  concerts,  a 
ball,  displays  of  fireworks,  etc.  The  ar- 
rangements were  made  by  a  committee 
under  direction  of  the  Manmsrchor  of  this 
city.  A  two  story  frame  building,  ninety 
or  one  hundred  feet  wide  and  one  hundred 
and  eighty  feet  long,  was  erected  on  the 
south  east  corner  of  Court  Square.  The 
floor  was  closely  seated  and  wide  galleries 
ran  round  three  sides  of  the  house,  the 
whole  afl'ording  accommodations  for  three 
or  four  thousand  spectators.  The  north 
end  was  occuj.ied  by  a  wide  raised  plat- 
form for  the  orcliestra  and  singers,  and  the 
whole  interior  was  profusely  decorated 
■with  pictures,  wreaths,  flags,  mottoes,  gas 
jets,  etc.  The  exterior  was  also  fully 
decorated  and  the  roof  surmounted  with 
the  fiags  of  all  nations.  Many  buildings 
in  the  city  were  finely  decorated  with  Hags 
and  evergreens.  The  expenses  were  met 
by  individual  subscriptions,  and  an  appro- 
priation of  $1,600  from,  the  city  treasury. 


The  Fest  was  very  successful  pecuniarily 
and  otherwise,  a  considerable  sum  being 
left  on  hand,  and  devoted  afterwar  i  to 
charitable  purposes.  Thousands  of  visit- 
ors were  in  attendance. 

It  has  been  stated  heretofore  that  the 
four  acre  tract  on  the  river  bank  south- 
west of  the  town,  set  aside  for  burial  pur- 
poses by  Judge  Harrison,  in  18:21,  was  for 
years  the  only  cemetery,  and  that  at  sub- 
sequent periods  two  or  three  adjoining 
tracts  were  platted  as  cemeteries  by  differ- 
ent parties.  These  were  rapidly  filling  up 
as  tlie  city  increased  in  size,  and  it,  becime 
evident  that  some  further  provision  must 
be  made  for  cemeteries  at  a  greater  dis- 
tance from  the  city.  With  this  object  in 
view,  a  number  of  gentlemen  held  a  pre- 
liminary meeting  on  the  I'ith  of  Septem- 
ber, 1803,  to  consult  regarding  the  matter, 
and  on  the  2oth  of  September,  an  associa- 
tion was  formed,  with  James  M.  Kay, 
President-,  Tiieodore  P.  Haughey,  Secre- 
tary, S.  A.  Fletcher,  Jr.,  Treasurer,  and 
with  seven  directors.  S.  A.  Fletcher,  Sr., 
offered  to  loan  the  necessary  funds  to 
purchase  grounds,  and  a  committee  being 
appointed  to  select  a  site,  soon  after  re- 
ported iu  favor  of  purchasing  the  farm 
and  nursery  of  .Martin  Williams,  three 
miles  north-west  of  the  city,  on  the  Michi- 
gan road,  together  with  several  smaller 
adjoining  tracts.  The  report  was  accepted, 
and  the  purchases  made  in  the  fall  of  1SG3, 
and  January,  1804,  at  prices  ranging  from 
3125  to  .SoOO  per  acre,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  in  all  being  secured  at  a  cost  of 
about  S51,o00.  The  money  was  loaned  to 
the  association  by  Mr.  Fletclier,  with  addi- 
tional amounts  to  begin  the  improvements. 
A  survey  was  ordered  and  plats  made  iu 
October  and  November,  and  Mr.  F.  W. 
Chislett  selected  as  Superintendent.  He 
began  the  improvements  in  the  spring  of 
1804.  The  large  trees  were  cut  into  logs, 
which  were  sawed  by  a  portable"  mill  on 
the  grounds,  into  lumber  and  fencing,  with 
which  the  tract  was  enclosed.  A  gate 
lodge  was  built  at  the  weitern  entrance 
near  the  Michigan  road,  and  in  1SG7,  a 
large  cottage  residence  for  the  Superintend- 
ent, was  erected  on  the  southern  part  of 
the  grounds.  The  improvement  of  the  car- 
riage ways  and  footpaths  began  in  the 
spring  of  1804,  lots,  irregular  in  plan  and 
of  various  sizes,  ranging  from  a  few  square 
feet  to  half  an  acre  or  more,  were  laid  out. 
The  grounds  were  dedicated  in  May  or 
June,  IfcOl,  Albert  S.  White,  delivering  the 
oration.  The  first  lot  sale  look  place  June 
8,  by  auction,  the  price  of  lots  being  fixed 
at  twenty-five  cents  per  square  foot  as  a 
minimum.  The  price  has  been  advanced 
several  times  at  subsequent  dates. 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1SI8. 


95 


:^ 


Rules  and  regulations  ■were  adopted  for 
the  governmeut  of  the  association  and  cem- 
etery, June  4,  1SG4.  Eich  lot-holder  is  in- 
terested in  t!;e  capital  of  ihe  assoeiation  to 
the  value  of  his  lot..  The  lot-holders  choose 
the  ofiiccrs.  No  profits  or  dividends  are 
allowed,  and  at'ter  payment  for  the  ground, 
(which  has  been  fully  made,  (he  loan  being 
repaid  to  Mr.  Fletcher,)  all  receipts  are 
expended  in  the  care  and  improvement  of 
the  cemetery.  No  fences  or  enclosures  of 
lots  are  permitted,  and  the  erection  of  great 
monuments  is  very  properly  discouraged. 
Notwithstanding  this  rule,  the  cemeter}' 
already  shows  too  much  marble  for  a 
strictly  pleasing  eifect. 

The  improvements,  consisting  of  gate 
lodges,  superintendent's  cottage,  enclosing 
fences,  carriage  and  foot  ways,  grading, 
sodding,  grubbing,  Sic.,  have  been  rapidly 
forwarded  since  the  spriwg  of  ]Su4,  cover- 
ing forty  or  tifty  acres  near  the  liill,  and 
already  the  cenetery  compares  well  wiili 
older  ones  near  othcrcitics.  The  hill  itself — 
formerly  called  Sand  hill,  and  now  known 
as  Crown  hill,  giving  name  to  the  ceme- 
tery— covers  a  base  of  twelve  or  fifteen 
acres,  and  is  over  one  hundred  feel  high. 
It  is  yet  unimproved,  and  it  is  proposed  to 
use  it  as  the  site  for  the  receiving  reser- 
voir in  the  contemjdated  system  of  water- 
TTorks.  Water  is  an  excellent  absorbent  of 
gases  arising  from  the  decomposition  of 
decaying  bodies,  and  vrater  consumers 
would  be  constantly  reminded  of  their  de- 
parted ancestors,  by  the  taste  and  smell  of 
their  daily  beverage. 

A  line  of  omnibuses  was  established  to 
the  grounds  in  18G4,  but  the  facilities  for 
reaching  the  spot  were  not  thought  sutli- 
cient,  and  in  the  spring  of  Ib'tiO,  proposi- 
tions were  made  to  extend  the  street  rail- 
road from  the  terminus  at  the  north  end  of 
Illinois  street,  to  the  cemetery.  The  resi- 
dents in  the  neighborhood,  the  cemetery 
board  of  directors,  and  the  street  railroad 
company  finally  made  the  necessary  ar- 
rangements, and  the  line  was  completed 
during  the  fall  of  IS^'^O  and  spring  of  1807, 
and  opened  for  travel  in  .\pril  or  May. 

In  .May,  ISOG,  the  board  dedicated  a  tract 
of  ground  to  the  government,  for  the  inter- 
ment of  the  Union  soldiers  buried  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  city.  The  grant  was  ac- 
cepted, and  during  the  fall  and  following 
spring,  the  transfer  of  the  bodies  wus 
effected  under  the  direction  of  the  govern- 
ment authorities,  and  the  spot  dedicated 
v.'ith  appropriate  ceren.onies.  On  the  30th 
of  May,  ISoS,  itndcr  a  general  order  issued 
by  Gen.  Logan,  commander  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  a  grand  ovation  was 
paid  to  tlie  memory  of  the  Union  dead. 
Arrangements  had  been   made   by   appro- 


priate committees.  The  ladies  labored 
zealously  in  preparing  the  floral  tributes. 
.\  procession  marched  to  the  grounds,  which 
were  thrnrged  by  several  thousand  specta- 
tors, and  after  an  address,  singing  and 
other  preliminary  exercises,  each  grave  was 
wreathed  and  strewed  with  tlowers  by 
^•oung  ladies,  and  orphans  of  deceased  sol- 
diers. The  demonstration  was  a  grand 
success,  the  only  drawback  being  the  diS- 
culty  experienced  by  many  in  reaching 
and  returning  from  the  grounds.  Business 
was  generally  suspended,  and  the  day  ob- 
served as  a  holiday.  It  is  probable  iliat 
the  ceremony  will  be  continued  annually 
hereafter. 

This  article  mny  close  with  a  rapid  and 
brief  mention  of  the  more  important  acts 
of  the  city  government  from  1>01  to  1S67. 
The  mayor,  in  May  18'j2,  called  the  at- 
tention  of  the  Council  to  the  number  of 
abandoned  vromen  incarcerated  iu  the  jail, 
and  the    bad  results  arising  from  such  a 
course    toward    them,     lie    recommended 
the  erection  of  a  house  of  refuse  to  wiiich 
they  could  be  sent,  and  in  which  a  reform- 
atory treatment  could  be  pursued.     Noth- 
ing, however,  was  done  at  the  time  witli 
the  project.     On  the  27th  of  July,  1>63,  S. 
A.  Fletcher,  Sr.,  submitted  a  proposition  to 
the   Council,   offering     to    give     seven    or 
eight  acres  of  ground  south  of  the  city  as 
a  site,  provided   the   city  would   agree   to 
erect  the  buildings.     Estimates,  by  D.  A. 
Bohlen,    architect,  were  also  filed,  fixing 
I  the  cost  of  the  house  at  §8,000,  and  a  Citi- 
I  zens  Committee,  at  the  same  time,  asked 
that    the    proposed    enterprise    should    bo 
!  committed  to  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  the 
I  Good    Shepherd.      The    donation    was    ac- 
cepted by  the  Council  .August  10th  ;  5-3,000 
I  were     appropriated      toward     the     house, 
!  Avhich  was  to  be  used  partly  as  a  house  of 
I  refuge  for  abandoned  and  drunken  women, 
!  and   partly  as  a    city  prison   for  females. 
I  Plans  were  submitted  and  adopted  on  the 
I  24th   of  .August.     The  house   was    put    in 
t  charge   of  the  building   committee,  and    a 
1  board  of  three  trustees  provided  for.     Con- 
I  tracts  were  let  in  the  fall,  and  during  the 
I  next  year  the  basement  story  was  finished 
I  in  good  style.     The  rapid  advance  in  ma- 
j  terial   and  labor  caused  great  loss  to  the 
i  contractor,  and  difhculty  ensued  between 
I  hira  and  the  city.     The  work  stopped  and 
j  has  ever  since  been  suspended.     The  en- 
I  tire  cost  thus  far  being  about  5"^,0o0.  Good 
!  faith  to  the  generous  donor  of  the  site,  and 
;  charity  to  the  class  provided  for  by  the  en- 
terprise   demand    the    speedy    completion 
of  the  buildings. 

A  society  for  the  amelioration  of  the 
condition  o'f  fallen  women  was  formed  in 
ISOG,  with  a  board  of  trustees  and  direc- 


!      f 


96 


HISTORY  OF 


tors  and  a  list  of  officers.  Aid  was  also  to  !  walks  payed;  three  miles  were  lighted. 
be  extcDded  to  worthy  and  friendless  fe- j  lu  IbGT  onehundred  and  ninety-fivehcuises, 
males.  A  house  was  rented  in  the  north  \  costing  $770,470,  were  built,  and  five  bun- 
part  of  the  second  ward  as  a  home  for  the  I  dred  and  tifty-two  permits  for  repairs, 
friendless,  an  1  a  home  for  those  wishing  !  costing  S13"2,0-j0  were  issued;  four  and 
to  escape  the  life  of  infamy  to  which  they  j  one-half  miles  of  streets  and  nine  of  side- 
seemed  coudL'inned.  It  was  placed  in  '  walks  were  graded  aud  graveled;  four 
charge  of  .Mrs.  .^arah  Smith  as  matron,  and  I  squares  were  bouldercd,  and  twenty-two 
has  since  slieltered  many  of  tliis  unfortu-  \  squares  of  side-walks  paved  ;  four  and  one- 
nate  class.  Some  have  been  entirely  .  half  miles  of  streets  were  lighted.  The 
reclaimed,  and  the  institution  seems  des-  ;  members  of  the  board  receive  pay  for  the 
tined  to  effect  much  good.  Material  aid  {  time  actually  employed,  and  the  clerk  re- 
has  recently  been  asked  from  the  Council,  !  ceives  fees  for  the  permits  issued. 
and  it  is  not  improbable  that  to  the  society  Under  the  provisions  of  the  iucopora- 
will  be  given  the  charge  of  the  house  of  I  tion  act,  the  council,  on  the  1st  of  October, 
refuge  when  that  building  is  completed.  !  1SG4,  nominated  L.  Vanlandingham,  A. 
The  city  ordinance  required  parties  !  Naltner,  James  Sulgrove,  1>.  S.  Beatty  and 
building  housci^  to  obtain  special  permis-  '  D.  V.  CuUoy  as  a  board  of  city  comraission- 
sion  before  obstructing  the  streets  with  i  ers,  to  assess  damages  and  benefits  from 
materials.  These  applications  consumed  |  the  opening  of  new  streets  or  alleys,  or 
much  time  in  the  council,  and  to  avoid  ;  the  cutting  of  sewers  or  new  channels  for 
further  trouble  from  this  source,  an  ordi-  j  streams.  The  nominations  were  confirmed 
nance  establishing  a  board  of  public  im-  I  soon  after  by  the  common  pleas  court,  and 
provements  was  introduced  in  the  fall  of  ]  applications  of  that  nature  have  since  been 
1863.     It.    remained    pending    for  several  j  referred  to  that  board. 

months,  and  on  tlie  19th  of  .4.pri],  lSG-4,  |  The  many  troops  and  prisoners  stationed 
another  ordinance  was  substituted  and  pas-  i  here  had  caused  uneasiness  aiiiong  medical 
sed,  creating  a  board  of  [lublic  improve-  :  men  for  fear  of  sudden  epidemics.  The 
nients,  to  be  composed  of  three  members  ;  prevalence  of  measles,  small  pox  and 
annually  selected  from  the  council.  They  cholera  liad  been  prevented  b}'  care  and 
were  to  choose  one  of  their  number  presi- 


dent, and  the  city  clerk   was   to  be  their 
secretary.     All  projects  connected  with  the 


prompt  attention — small  pox  cases  beinj 
treated  in  a  small  building  on  the  hospital 
grounds.    In  January,  lSi34,  however,  cases 


public  buildings,  market  houses,  bridges,  i  of  small  pox  became  quite  numerous  not 
culverts,  sewers,  drains,  cisterns,  street  |  only  among  the  troops,  hut  in  different 
improvements,  parks,  gas  lighting,  water- i  parts  of  the  city;  and  in  February,  the 
works,  &.C.,  were  to  be  referred  to  them  for  I  government  and  city  authorities  rented 
examination,  and  all  work  wa.s  to  be  exe-  \  ground  and  built  a  pest  house  on  the  river, 
cuted  under  their  direction.  They  were  i  two  miles  north-west  of  town.  Further 
to  report  their  action  in  all  cases  to  the  ;  cases  were  promptly  sent  there,  and  the 
council.  Persons  intending  to  build,  re-  j  spread  of  the  disease  was  soon  checked, 
pair  or  remove  houses,  were  to  get  permits  1  After  the  war  the  government  turned  the 
from  the  board,  giving  the  location,  cost,  j  house  over  to  the  city,  and  the  ground  was 
&c.,  of  the  proposed  work,  and  a  register  '•  afterward  bought  and  deeded  to  the  city, 
was  to  be  kept  and  reported  of  the  permits.  \  December  '23d,  1SG5. 

The  board  made  no  anni-.ul  report  for  j  Fvepcated  complaints  of  the  inefficient 
1SG4,  and  the  extent  and  value  of  the  im-  '  drainage  on  Illinois  street  and  elsewhere, 
provements  for  that  year  can  not  be  given  ;  I  and  of  the  damage  caused  by  \  irginia 
but  in  1SG5  they  reported  thai  one  hundred  |  river,  Pogue's  run  and  Lake  .McCarty,  had 
and  fifty  houses  costing  .■^200,000,  were  |  been  made  to  the  council.  Various  plans 
built  in  the  Additions,  and  one  thousand  !  for  improving  the  drainage  at  small  ex- 
four  hundred  and  seventy-one  permits  is- j  pense,  had  been  proposed  and  considered 
sued  for  buildings  and  repairs  in  the  city.  ]  at  difl^rent  liuies  without  result,  and  sew- 
costing  SI, SOU, 000.  Nine  miles  of  streets  '  ers  had  been  advocated  on  particular  streets. 
aud  eighteen  of  side-walks  were  graded  j  The  council  in  July,  ISGo,  selected  James 
and  graveled;  one  mile  of  street  was  j  W.  Brown,  F-  Stein  and  L.  B.  Vi  ilson  as  a 
bouldered,  aud  four  miles  of  side-walk  |  board  of  engineers  to  take  levels  on  all 
paved;  three  miles  of  streets  were  lighted.  !  the  streets,  and  devise  a  general  system  of 
In  18GG  permits  for  one  thousand  one  hun- I  sewers  for  the  city.  Money  was  appro- 
dred  and  twelve  houses,  costing  Sl,OGo, 000,  I  printed  for  the  work,  and  the  survey  and 
were  issued;  eight  and  one-half  miles  of  i  profile  was  made  during  the  fall.  The  ex- 
streets  and  sixteen  of  side-walks  graded  |  pense  involved  had  hitherto  prevented  the 
and  graveled;  three  and  a  half  squares  of  j  building  of  any  regular  sewers,  btit  a  tax 
streets  bouldered,  and  two  miles  of  side-  !  of  fifteen   cents  was  levied  in  May,  18G8, 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


for   a   sewerase    f"nid,  and    the   cuiiiicil    is 
now  consMeiitig  the  prop'ielj  of  builJing  | 
sewers  to  drain  Lnke  MeCarty  and  provide  | 
ng;irui>t  floods  in  Virginii  riv«'r.     The  res 
ideuts    in   the   seventh    and    eighth    wards  | 
along    the  course  of   the  bist  n  .med  ba\ou  j 
hiive    been  repeaiC'llj'    drowned    out.     'J'iie  i 
trouble   is  iiicreasiiig   every  year   with  the  j 
ruLiid  >ettlenieut  and   improvement   i<i  that 
section,  and  hirge  cbiiras  for  damages   are 
now    pending    against   the    cily,  with    the 
proi^pect   of  many    more  in    future.     Some 
of  them  have  already  been  decided  against  ! 
the  city  by  iJie  courts. 

A  l;irgc  number  o{  additions  adjaiuing 
the  C'jrporation  limits  liad  been  thickly 
settled,  and  the  parties  who  lived  in  litem 
were  doing  biisiiie.'SS  in  the  city,  and  had 
the  advantages  of  the  city  government  and 
improvements  without  coutributing  bj'  tax- 
ation to  tile  city  finances.  It  was  proposed 
iu  l^H.j  to  annex  them  to  the  city,  under 
the  provisions  of  the  incorporation  act, 
and  an  ordinance  to  include  the  aaditious 
on  tlie  north  line  of  the  city  was  intro- 
duced iu  the  council,  but  while  it  was 
pending  a  remonstrance  from  tlie  parlies 
interested  was  presented  against  the  ratas- 
iire,  demanding  that  all  the  addition'^ 
should  be  included.  A  new  or.iinance, 
therefore,  wa»  drawn  up  and  introduced  iu 
December,  ISbo,  providing  for  the  annexa- 
tion by  name  of  forty -tive  separate  addi- 
tions adjoining  the  city  on  the  north,  east 
and  South  sides.  The  me^isure  vras  resist- 
ed by  the  people  of  t!ie  additions,  and  the 
council,  after  consideraciou  of  the  expense 
ill  volved  for  police  and  oilier  items  for  <he 
new  territory,  let  the  matter  drop  for  the 
time. 

During  18G5,  sever^il  former  railway  en- 
terprizes,  suspended  by  hard  times  or  by 
the  war,  were  revived,  and  in  May,  1 8t3l), 
petitions,  largely  signed  by  the  citizens, 
were  pitsenied  to  the  council,  asking  a  sub- 
ficiipiion  by  ihe  city  to  the  ^'luceuues,  In- 
diana &,  Illinois  Central,  and  Crawlords- 
ville  lines,  to  enable  them  to  construct  their 
roads.  The  petitions  being  laid  over  for 
additional  signatures,  they  were  soon  ob- 
tained by  committees,  and  on  the  "ilst  of 
.May,  the  council  voted  to  issue  $I5'I,UL>0  in 
twenty  year  bonds,  in  sums  of  i^l.U'.iO  each, 
to  be  dividt-d  as  follows:  SiJUOUO  to  the 
Vincennes  road,  S4o,U<>0  to  each  of  the 
other  lines,  and  at  a  subsequent  date  the 
same  amount  was  voted  to  the  Junction 
road.  The  companies  were  first  to  finish 
foriy  miles  of  road  inside  of  three  years, 
favor  the  city  in  freights,  and  comply  with 
oihcr  conditions.  Work  was  afterward  be- 
gun, and  has  been  .actively  prosecuted  on 
all  eicept  the  ludinna  and  illinoia  Central, 
the   Juuction   road   being   completed,   and 


the  Vincennes  well  advaoced  at  the  present 
time. 

Several  serious  accidents  having  occurred 
l)y  collisions  between  street  cars  and  other 
vehicles,  with  trains  on  the  Union  track, 
the  council  on  thu  5th  of  Feb'-uary.  ISGb. 
ordered  the  employment  of  llngmen  by  tlie 
railro<d  company  at  each  crossing:  it  be- 
ing their  duty  to  constantly  watch  the 
train--,  and  warn  all  panics  of  their  Ap- 
proach. The  company  at  once  complied 
with  the  ordinance,  and  since  that  lime 
few  or  no  accidents  have  happened. 

During  the  summer  of  IfOb,  to  get  rid 
of  the  heavy  charges  made  fur  boarding 
city  prisoners  in  tiie  couniy  j  lil,  the  coun- 
cil determined  to  build  a  Station  hou.?e,  and 
after  examining  various  siics,  hoiight  a  lot 
iu  September,  on  .^laIyland,  between  Penn- 
sylvania and  Meridian,  at  $4,000.  No 
subsequent  effort  has  been  made  to  build 
the  house.  Propositions  were  made  at 
about  the  same  lime  to  reijt  buildings  for 
tlie  cily  ofiices,  or  sell  lots  for  the  site  of  a 
city  hall.  The  Second  Presbyterian  church 
was  offered  at  .Slo.UO),  in  bonds.  Ihe 
Journ-il  company  offered  to  build  a  block 
next  their  oMice,  and  Andrew  Wallace  ten- 
dered his  building.  The  council  declined 
all  these  proposals,  and  resolved  not  to 
build  H  hall  till  the  debt  was  paid. 

On  the  "iQth  of  October,  ISGG,  the  coun- 
cil passed  the  eight  liour  law.  The  ques 
tion  arose,  (but  was  ignored,)  whether  it 
applied  to  tiie  oflicers  ami  police.  It  was 
■ipplied  by  the  street  coinnnssioner  in  his 
ilepirtmeut,  but  as  he  reduced  the  wages 
in  the  same  proportion,  trouble  ensued 
with  the  employees,  who  resisted  the  re- 
duction in  their  pay.  The  commissioner 
applied  to  the  council  for  instructions,  but 
was  advised  to  use  his  own  discretion  in 
the  matter.  The  ten  hour  system  lias  since 
been  restored. 

The  names  of  the  streets  were  ordered  to 
be  put  on  the  lamps  in  November,  Ib'JG.  In 
December,  piopositious  for  an  alarm  tele- 
graph were  received  from  several  parties, 
hut  declined,  and  the  arrangement  was 
iinally  completed  in  18ii7-"68,  as  stated  in 
the  history  of  the  fire  department.  In 
February,  18G7,  the  Vincennes  railroad  and 
Indiana[>olis  Furnace  company,  were  au- 
thorized to  lay  tracks  on  Kentucky  avenue. 
The  corner  stone  of  the  Catholic  Cftihe- 
dral,  on  Tennessee  street,  was  laid  with 
appropriate  ceremonies,  on  the  20th  of 
July,  ISoT,  in  presence  of  a  vast  audience. 
The  building  will  be  of  brick,  v.-ith  white 
stone  facings,  and  is  in  the  regular  gothio 
style,  with  nave,  transept,  center  and  side 
aisles,  high  altar,  and  great  eastern  win- 
dow. It  is  about  50  by  105  feet,  will  be 
very  solidly  built,  and  is  to  have  the  high- 


(V 


98 


HISTORY   OF 


esl  spire  in  tlie  country.  The  W'llls  nre 
now  being  canstrnoted,  hut  S"veriil  years 
will  e!a|s>-  before  its  ciuiipletion.  T!ie  es- 
liiuiiied  co'et  is  over  JGOU.DOO.  It  will  be 
the  birgest  religions  ediHce  in  the  Sinie. 

The  nutiior  regrets  that,  he  has  failed  lo 
procure  the  facts  connected  with  the  orgnn- 
izution  of  the  several  Outholic  churches, 
Fchools,  nnd  societies  in  the  city,  nnd  will 
therefore  j_'ive  generally  6ucli  information 
as  he  h'ls  obtuined. 

St.  Joiin's  Clnircb,  on  west  Georgia 
street,  :i  small,  plain,  hiick  edifice,  built 
nbur.t  18-Ji1,  is  the  oldest  one  heie.  It  has 
a  large  number  of  communicnnts,  nnd  is  in 
charge  of  Rev.  August  Bessonies,  who  suc- 
ceeded Rev.  Daniel  .Malotiey.  St.  Mary's 
Church,  under  Rev.  Simon  Seigrirt,  whs 
built  in  1858,  on  east  Marylnnd  street,  rear 
Delaware,  and  has  many  communicants, 
mosily  Germans.  St  Peter's  Ghuri.h,  on 
Uouglieriy  sinet,  near  Virginia  avenue, 
was  built  about  18f>5,  and  is  in  charge  of 
Rev.  Jdsepli  Petit.  Flourishing  Sablraih 
schools  aie  attached  to  each  of  these  chuich- 
es,  nnd  ii  number  of  ciiurch  and  charitable 
gucieiies  are  also  directly  or  indirectly  con- 
necled  with  them. 

St.  John's  Academy  for  girls,  in  charge 
of  the  Sisters  of  Providence,  is  siiuHted  on 
Georgia  and  Tennessee  streets,  adjoining 
the  Taihedral  and  St.  Jolm's  Church.  Th" 
buildiiigs,  (erected  aboni  )  StiO, )  are  w nil  de- 
signed, ami  the  schoul  is  bnge,  wtll  con- 
ducted and  prosperous.  St.  . John's  .Acade- 
my fur  hove,  east  of  St.  John's  chuich,  is 
in  the  care  of  Kev.  August  Bessonits.  Si. 
Mary's  .Academy  for  boys,  on  the  nllcy 
poulli  of  St  Mary's  church,  is  of  brick,  and 
thiee  s'oiies  high.  A  school  for  young 
child-en  in  clia  i  ge  of  .M  is  Keating,  is  siip- 
poitcd  by  the  St.  Peter's  church  congrega- 
tion. 

The  writer  reglected  to  state  in  its  pro- 
per pi  !CC,  ihe  fact  th.it  a  very  large  and 
flouri.'^liing  private  Gfrnian  sclio"!  lias  been 
conducted  tor  ten  or  eleven  yeais  past,  oti 
east  Maryland  street,  between  Delawaie 
and  A  lab. ma  streets.  The  school-house, 
(origiiially  small.)  was  much  eulaiged, 
and  improved  in  -its  arrangements  two  or 
three  years  since.  Several  hundied  pupils 
are  in  attendance. 

The  Saturday  Evening  Mirror,  a  literary 
weekly  journal,  was  first  issued  Dt^cemher 
22d,  IStiT,  from  an  office  in  Sclinull's 
building,  by  Ilrirding  &  Henry:  Georjre  C. 
Harding,  the  former  noted  war  correspond- 
ent of  the  Cincinrititi  Couimercinl,  arid  the 
loc'il  editor  of  the  Journal  and  of  the  Sen- 
tinel, at  subsequent  perioija,  being  editor. 
It  w.-is  pnldislied  on  Sunday  for  a  shoit 
lime,  but  the  Sentinel  bcjinning  the  issue 
of  a  Sunday  paper,  the  publication  day  of 


the  Mirror  was  changed   to  Saturday.     J. 

R.    Morton    subscciuenily    bought     Heniy's 

interest,  the  office  was  removed  to  Tilfiid's 

'  tiuilding,  on  t?ircle  street,  nnd  the  paper  is 

now  is.'^ued  by  liiruing  &  Morton,  wiih   G. 

C  Harding  and  W.  B.  Vickei^.  as  editors. 

It    has    been    much   enlarged,   is   well   con- 

I  ducted,  and  has  steadily  advanced  in  pub- 

I  lie  favor. 

I  The  commissioners  in  the  original  snr- 
[  vey  mac'e  no  provision  for  a  public  park, 
and  wiih  the  exception  of  the  squares  or 
parts  o;  sqiiarts.  reserved  for  S^aie,  Coun- 
ty, Hosjiiial,  Univeisity  and  Market  pur- 
poses, no  [uiblic  t^quare  was  designnied.  So 
long  ns  the  town  was  openly  builr.  and  the 
wide  streets  properly  shaded,  the  want  of 
public  grounds  whs  unfelt,  but  in  rccer.t 
years,  with  the  crowding  of  populaiiou  and 
the  paving  of  the  streets,  the  increased 
noise,  dust  and  beat,  diew  attention  to  a 
want  formerly  unctinsidercd.  'I'hc  city  toi.k 
possession  of  the  Circle,  University  square, 
and  inilitaiy  grounds,  in  ISGO,  and  since 
that  date  has  expended  coiisideralde  sums 
in  the  improvement  and  planting  of  each 
as  public  grounds,  but  the  limited  area  af- 
foided  by  these  tracts  will  not  supply  the 
future  demand  for  a  properly  constructed 
and  ornamented  park.  'J'o  supply  in  some 
measure  this  public  want,  and  as  a  mcii.o- 
lial  of  Calvin  Fletcher,  Sr.,  the  heirs  of 
that  gentleman,  in  the  spring  of  18b8.  of- 
fered to  donate  tliiny  acies  in  a  triangular 
f(irm,  adjoining  the  Dellefon taine  railway 
•it  the  north-east  corner  of  liie  city,  for  n 
public  paik;  the  city  in  case  of  accept- 
ance, lo  expend  the  sum  of  S3O,000  on  it 
in  improvements  within  a  given  period. 
Tiie  ofter  was  at  fi^st  lavorably  consideied 
by  the  council,  but  unexpected  opp'^siiion 
arose,  partly  on  account  of  the  location, 
partly  on  account  of  ihe  eipcndiiure  to  be 
incurred,  nnd  partly  fioni  the  jealousy  of 
ihe  sfctions  not  thus  favored.  Afier  lung 
cou-ideraiion,  the  city  council  courded 
I  other  conditions  with  the  acceptance  ot  ilu> 
I  don.iiion,  and  the  offer  was  withdrawn. 
I  This  result  is  to  be  regretted,  fur  suoli 
i  tracts  will  ultimately  be  iteded,  not  only 
in  that  ncighboi  hood,  but  elsew-lieie,  nnd 
I  they   should   be  secuied   while  the  ground 

is  comparatively  die  'p. 

I      A  brief  statement  of  the  facts  connected 

!  with  the  foimaiion  of  the  leading  libraries 

I  in  the  city   may   be    given    here.     First  in 

I  importance,  both  for  the  variety  and  num- 

I  bcr  of  volumes  it  contain",  is  the  colleciion 

rn.ade  by  the  Stale,  now  placed  in  ih*;  lower 

rooms  of  the    State    house.     Its    fuimalion 

began  shortly  after  the  organization  ot  'lie 

Slate    guvernineiit,    though    but   little    hail 

been    achieved   until    after   the  erection  of 

the  State  Louse.     The  few   books    prior    to 


INDIANAPOLIS  FROM  1818. 


09 


tliat  lifxte  hnd  V>eeQ  kept  in  the  Court  house 
(inJ  Circle  builtiing.  It  1k\s  since  grHdii 
ally  incrcised,  by  (loiintioiis.  oxcluinpcs 
and  {iiuchiises,  (a.  small  nppiopriaiion  be- 
ing annually  made  for  the  purpose.)  until 
it  now  n'lmoers  between  twenty-five  and 
thirty-thousand  voliitnes.  Mtiny  of  these 
are  in  foreign  lantjuuecs,  gifts  fiotn  foreign 
governments.  Tt-.e  lilirary  was  at  first 
used  both  for  reference  and  circulation 
The  Stale  officers,  legislators,  judiciary,  at- 
lorneys  and  professional  men  only  being 
eniitled  to  take  books  out,  though  any  one 
could  use  them  for  retcrencc  at  the  library 
rootii  The  circulating  feature  was  after- 
wnid  abandoned,  it  being  fuiind  that  valu- 
able sets  were  broken,  and  lUiiny  bnok.s  an- 
nually losl.  The  library  is  Weil  supjlied 
with  woi  ks  in  the  sevei  al  departments,  and 
contains  some  rare  and  Viiluable  books. 
Tlinugli  in  belter  comliiion  now  than  in 
foiHier  years,  it  has  never  been  as  well  ar 
rai'ged  and  cat.ilogiied  as  it  should  be. 
The  several  rooms  on  the  west  side  of  the 
State  hou-e  are  now  occupied  by  ilie  libra- 
ry, and  by  the  tropliiis  and  flags  collected 
and  returi  cd  liy  Indi-.ina  regiments  in  the 
Mexican  war,  and  war  of  the  lebellioii 

B.  t'.  Foster,  Gordon  Tanner,  S.  L>.  Lyon. 
R  D.  liiown,  Nathaniel  liolion,  J  hn  B. 
Itillon,  John  Cook  and  others,  have  been 
the  librarians. 

Tlie  collection  of  bonks  for  the  County 
libiary    began   shorily  atier   the  organiza 
tion  of  the  county,  two  j)er  cent,  of  the  lot-  j 
fund  Sillies  bei':g  set  apai-t  for  that  purpose,  ! 
and     thoiij.h    many    of    llie   original    books  j 
have  been  losl  or  worn  out,  the  libraiy  has  I 
slowly   and    constantly   inciea.«ed    until    it 
now  nnnibeis  over  two   thousand  volumes 
It   has   been   located  in  the  upper  room    of j 
Court  houfie  for  innny  yiars,  and  bfs  been  | 
in  charge  of  James   A.  Ilamilion.   John  W    j 
ILunilton,  Calvin    lav  lor,  John  Caveii  and  \ 
oiheis,   as   lihniriniis.       Peveiity-five   cents  i 
fee  per  year  is  charged  for  the  use  of  books.  | 
and  the  library,  wliich  is  well  selected  and  j 
Valuable,  is   largely  pationized,   l)Ut   it  de- 
serves   even    more    uitentiou    iLau    it    re- 
ceives. 

Ihe  township  library,  foijneily  kept  in 
!lie  ujiper  rooms  of  the  Court  house,  b.  t 
more  recently  in  the  third  siory  of  HeiethV 
block,  was  loinied  under  the  law  of  1^52, 
providing  tor  the  formation  of  .'•ikIi  col'.ec- 
tions,  and  levying  laxis  tor  i heir  puichase 
and  maintenance,  li  i,  nnjbered  a  lout  two 
thousand  volumes  of  genpi  ;illy  well  seliet- 
C'l  works,  but  many  of  the  vcjlumes  Imvc 
since  been  lost  and  d'snoyed,  and  not  over 
twelve  or  fourteen  hundred  are  now  ic- 
laincd.  It  is  free  lo  all  iea<leis,  who  c»n 
l^'ke  out  books  if  they  choose,  and  is  ver_) 
Well  piitroiiized. 


The  Indianapolis  Library  Society,  the 
first  private  library  association  heie,  wa'* 
foimed  in  1827,  and  collected  by  donation, 
subscription  and  purchase,  a  considerabip 
number  of  good  bo'jks,  which  weie  lucaied 
the  greater  pait  of  the  lime  the  organiza- 
tion existed,  in  the  Circle  building,  and 
used  by  the  members.  Obed  Foote,  Sr , 
was  the  librarian.  The  greater  pari  of  the 
volumes  were  lost,  ami  the  rest  divided, 
>ind  the  nigaiiizaiioD  died  after  seven  or 
eight  yeais. 

The  next  private  library  was  collected 
hy  the  Union  Literary  Society,  formed  in 
183'),  and  existing  till  1851.  This  collec- 
tion consisted  of  several  hundred  books, 
for  the  use  of  the  members,  and  after  the 
death  of  tiie  society,  w>is  lianded  over  to 
the  Young  Men's  Christian  .Association. 

The  Young  .Men's  Christian  Associati(u 
formed  in  1854,  soon  afterward  began  the 
eolleciion  of  a  library,  receiving  the  books 
of  the  Union  Literary  Society,  and  adding 
thereto  until  about  1.500  volumes  aie  now 
found  in  their  looins,  under  charge  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Armsiiong,  librarian. 

The  Young  Men's  Librniy  Association, 
formed  in  18Go,  shortly  thereafter  esiuli- 
lishfd  a  reafiing  room  in  the  third  story  of 
Hubbard's  block,  gave  annual  courses  of 
lectures,  and  began  the  foimation  of  a  li- 
brary, which  nt  present  includes  about  t  wo 
hiindied  volumes,  mostly  current  magazine 
literaiuie.  The  annual  fee  requiied  of 
membeis  is  5-5,  entitling  the  holder  lo  ihe 
use  of  the  library  and  leading  room,  and 
aitendaijce  dining  the  annual  course  of 
Icctuies.  John  Caven,  has  bi  en  president 
of  the  association  since  its  origin. 

The  Ames  Institute,  a  liieiary,  Ifcture 
and  library  society,  loimed  in  18G0,  hsis 
since  acciiniulated  a  library  of  sboui  fi^e 
huiidrtd  volumes,  now  stored  at  the  society 
loom  in  ^V'esley  CliMpel,  Carl  Hamlin  is 
piesideni  of  the   oignnization. 

Tlie  wiiter  has  now  brietly  considered 
the  hading  cvenis  in  the  piogiessof  the 
cuy  from  its  first  settlement  to  the  pieseni 
time,  lliis  consideration  has  shown  that 
it  has  passed  thiough  tour  separate  periods 
of  development.  'Ihe  tiist  began  in  the 
icmporHty  ref>utntion  and  piosperiiy  enjoy- 
ed by  the  town  wlieii  selected  in  182ii,  as 
the  seal  of  govei  ntiieni.  The  location  im- 
mediately diawing  a  relaiively  large  jiop- 
nlaiion  Ijeie,  when  the  stinounding  coin- 
iry  was  a  complete  wildeitiess.  'Ihe  slow 
development  of  a  region  so  heavily  tim- 
bered, the  sickness  an  ong  the  early  settlers, 
the  delay  in  establishing  the  goveinmenl 
here,  and  the  want  of  communication  wiih 
the  outside  woild,  put  a  stop  to  this  speedy- 
advance,  and  though  the  Capital  was  atter- 
w:  rd    removed   here,    very   little  impiovc- 


100 


HISTORY   OF 


mrnt    in    t!it^    prosppcts    of    ilie   town    took    citizens  of  other  sections  to  do  iliat  wliich 
])lnce.     T'lo  Internil  Iinpiovemeut  scbonie  1  so  clearij  devolves  upon  fhem. 


in  1836,  t>Cfc>iii  the  second  cm,  and  for  the 
liirie  conipleiely  ciirint^ied  the'  aspect  of  af- 
fiiiis.     Another  suilden  Hdv:ince  occurred. 


This  sketch  is  now  ended.  No  apology 
is  needed  for  ilie  etl'orl  to  wri'e  it,  hut  one 
is  due   for    lite  miiuner  in  which   the   task 


A  marked  increase  in  trade,  in  popnl  ition.  i  hns  been  executed.  When  tiie  writer  coc- 
and  in  wealth,  wns  vir-ihle,  and  the  town  i  sented  to  undertake  it,  he  intended  to  give 
WHS  assuming  an  iinporlani  rank,  when  the  merely-  a  general  review  of  the  progress  of 
fHilurennd  suspension  of  the  public  works  !  the  city  from  its  fir.st  setilemeut,  (levising, 
cut  ;^hort  its  c.ireer.  lis  subsequent  zrowth  ,  correciinix  sind  extending  nn  artitde  he  hud 
was  very  s'ow,  being  governed  by  the  de-  |  prepared  for  the  Directory  of  1S.J7.)  and 
veiopment  of  the  surioundiiig  territory,  Hnil  :  limiting  the  sketch  to  forty-eight  pages. 
it  remained  a  country  vllage  of  the  better',  i'he  material  collected  soon  compelled  an 
class,  till  October,  1847.  The  completion  :  eiilargement  of  the  work,  and  finally  much 
of  tiie  .Madison  railroad  in  t!i)it  month  ami  j  care  was  needed  to  prevent  its  expansion 
year,  began  the  third  era,  giving  the  town  j  to  a  volume.  All  attempt  at  enibellisb- 
an  oiiilei,  anij  making  it  a  center  for  the  !  ment  by  personal  sketches  or  anecdote, 
surplus  products  of  the  surrounding  re-  |  wiis  abandoned,  and  the  author's  sole  aim 
gion.  From  that  tim-e  till  the  war  of  the  ;  was  to  crowd  the  greatest  number  of  facts, 
rebellion,  i:.s  growth  was  steady,  rapid  and  i  important  or  unitnportant,  into  the  fewest 
solid,  and  the  foundation  gradually  luid  j  words,  t!ie  object  being  to  perpetuate  matter 
for  its  fiituie  trade,  but  it  still  remained  ;  that  wouhl  soon  be  irrecoverably  lost.  To 
subordit'ate  to  other  bii-iiness  centers.  The  !  this  cause  must  be  ascribed  the  careless 
fourth  period  began  with  the  war  in  IStJl,  style,  the  piragrajihic  character  of  tiie  con- 
liie  place  being  ai  first  stopped  in  its  devel-  \  tents,  and  the  repetition  of  the  ^ame  facts 
opment,  but  soon  adv>icniiig  with  a  rapidity  ;  in  different  connections.  Many  of  these 
astounding  to  those  wlio  hatl  been  educated  j  repetitions  were  necessary,  but  others,  es- 
only  by  their  early  experiences  here,  and  I  pecially  in  the  last  half  of  the  work,  arose 
who  cons'atitly  predicted  a  downfall  'i'he  !  from  the  fact  that  several  compositors  were 
war  grrowth,  ihougli  so  rapid,  was  a  healthy  \  constantly  wanting  "  copy,''  and  as  fast  ns 
one.  It.  was  the  direct  result  of  a  large  j  the  manuscript  was  prepared,  it  went  to  the 
tiHile,  and  the  fact  that  a  greater  scope  I  printer,  and  not  being  again  seeu  by  the 
of  territory  was  made  tributary  to  the  city,  j  writer,  some  repetitions  unavoidably  oc- 
and  had  manufacturing  been  largely  com-  j  ciirred.  The  collection  of  material  and  its 
ntenced  at  the  close  of  the  wht,  no  pcrma-  |  preparation  for  tlie  press,  has  been  done  r^t 
nent  cessation  of  the  trade  and  growth  of  j  night,  or  in  leisure  moments,  amid  the 
the  place  w  ould  liave  occurred.  The  four  j  press  of  other  matters.  It  has  involved 
periods  of  development  in  the  history  of  j  much  rapid  and  exhausting  labor,  and 
the    city    show    that   just  as   facilities  for  i  tlioucfh    errors    have  doubtless    been    corn- 


trade  and  travel  have  been  increased, just 
60  certain  and  constant  lias  been  itssubse- 
qizent  growth.  Merchjuus  and  nuinufac- 
tiirers  should  apply  tlie  lesson,  and  not  only 
aid  every  effort  to  open  new  cimnnels,  but  go 
before,  and  interest  themselves  in  the  trade 


mitted.  the  author  trusts  he  has  recovered 
so  much  that  was  almost  lost,  that  crudities 
in  style  and  inaccuracies  in  atatemenl  will 
be  forgiven. 

Tiie  amhor  would  return  his   thanks  to 
the  old  citizens  who  assisted  him  bv  their 


nnd  products  of  tiie  region  to  be  traversed  I  personal  statement  of  facts,  and  espe- 
by  them.  A  great  trsiding  and  manufac-  |  cially  to  the  heirs  of  the  late  Calvin 
liiriog  cetiter  may  be  created  here  by  pro-  '  Fletcher,  for  the  use  of  the  files  of  papers 
per  effort,  and  the  destiny  of  tlie  city  rests  1  collected  and  let't  by  that  gentleman,  Ircm 
directly  in  the  haiids  now  controlling  its  |  wiiich.  far  more  than  fiom  any  other 
active  business.  On  the  meichauts,  bank  !  source,  the  f.icis  were  secured  on  which 
eis  and  manufHCturers,  rests  the  respotisi  i  tnis  article  is  founded, 
bility  for  its  fiituie  growth  or  decadence   1  Iqnatics  Brown. 

and  tlioy  can  not  escape  it  by  waiting  for  j 


fe> 


!